nicer place to ride.
(Graphic: City of Portland)
The Portland Water Bureau is constructing a second reservoir at Powell Butte Nature Park and the project comes with an exciting opportunity to improve the park’s off-road trail network.
The 600-plus acre extinct cinder cone in outer southeast Portland already allows multiple uses — including mountain biking — on about nine miles of trails, but Cecily Norris, a regional representative with the Northwest Trail Alliance (NWTA) says this project gives the community a chance to vastly improve those trails. Norris sits on the 11-member advisory committee that is helping the Water Bureau decide on what the renovated park will look like.
“There are many opportunities for trail improvements – better trail head entrances, increased trail access for mountain bikers, re-design of trails.”
— Cecily Norris, regional rep for the NWTA
The committee has met several times since October and they are now very close to making a final recommendation based on review of several different plans. There are no more public hearings on the project, but the Water Bureau has launched an online survey that will act as the public comment form for the project. The survey will be open until the end of the year.
Norris says, “It is vital that we make our voices heard and show support for increased, sustainable trails on Powell Butte and that increased trail access does not have to come at the determinant of wildlife and habitat.”
There are three different trail concepts under consideration. Each one focuses trail improvements in a different section of the park. You can view and comment on each concept, as well as download a detailed PDF about them, via the online survey.
As for possibilities for improving biking in the park, according to Norris, “There are many opportunities for trail improvements – better trail head entrances, increased trail access for mountain bikers, re-design of trails.”
If the project is successful, Powell Butte will be a much nicer place to ride. Take a few minutes to fill out the comment form/survey and stay tuned for more updates.