"The 1969 picnic signaled a turning of the tides: Harbor Drive was decommissioned in 1974; four years later, a grassy expanse called Waterfront Park opened in its place."
"Today, the 37-acre Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park has times of bustle: the Rose Festival, Cinco de Mayo, the Waterfront Blues Festival."
"Portland Metro Chamber president Andrew Hoan, who runs here daily, calls it 'a Canadian goose landing strip.' Yet Hoan sees as much potential in the waterfront as those picnickers did in 1969."
"'We are a river city,' says Keith Wilson, who's often biked to city hall through the park, emphasizing the importance of revitalizing public spaces."
In August 1969, a gathering on the west bank of the Willamette River opposed the widening of Harbor Drive, which blocked river access. This event marked a shift in public sentiment towards the waterfront. Harbor Drive was decommissioned in 1974, leading to the establishment of Waterfront Park in 1978. Over the years, the park has added attractions like the Salmon Street Springs fountain and cherry trees. Despite its popularity during events, large areas of the park remain underutilized, yet there is a strong belief in its potential for revitalization.
Read at Portland Monthly
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