Sunday Parkways last June.
(Photos © J. Maus)
Details of Sunday Parkways 2009 are slowly leaking out of the Transportation Options division at PDOT.
Last year’s event — which opened up a six-mile loop of North Portland streets to people and prohibited cars — was a ground-breaking success. In 2009, PDOT says they’ll expand the event to three separate days in three different parts of the city.
According to Janis McDonald, one of the lead staffers on the project, the upcoming Sunday Parkways will consist of a North Portland route in June, a Northeast route in July and a Southeast route in August.
McDonald says her office was inundated emails and phone calls from all over the city after last year’s event; “People were saying, bring it to my neighhood!, so we wanted to spread the fun around.”
The event may also last longer in 2009. Under consideration is an idea to start the event an hour earlier later at 9:00 am and keep the streets carfree until 4:00 pm.
A longer event means PDOT will need even more volunteers. Voluneer organizer McDonald says they hope to recruit “400 happy people to help with each event.” She also added that the shifts will be shorter this year so volunteers can have more time to enjoy the event.
Routes that can handle the large crowds, that have safe arterial crossings and have minimal impact to TriMet service are expected to be finalized by January.
The City is busy contacting neighborhoods and business and community organizations about potential routes and collaborations. So far, Kaiser Permanente and Bike Gallery have pledged to support the event, however, McDonald says more sponsors will be necessary to make all three events a reality.
If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor or a volunteer of the event, contact Janis McDonald in the Office of Transportation at (503) 823-5358 or via email – janis[dot]mcdonald[at]pdxtrans.[dot]org. PDOT is also seeking vendor and performer ideas as well.