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URBAN LIVABILITY:
Outdoor Activities

  



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Proximity to the outdoors is a cherished attribute of Portland.

Section Summary

Portlanders value outdoor activities and see them as contributing to both the overall livability of the city and the feeling of community connectedness among residents. Although Portlanders enjoy the ability to drive short distances to access activities on the coast, in the Columbia River Gorge and on the mountains, in this section they speak mainly of preserving and enhancing access to outdoor activities within the city itself.

Portlanders make a number of connections between outdoor activities and urban livability. Outdoor activities connect residents with nature and with each other and foster healthy and active lifestyles. Looking to the future, Portlanders want access to outdoor activities to be equitably distributed among Portland’s different neighborhoods and populations. They also want outdoor activities to be accessible via multiple modes of alternative transportation and accommodating of a wide variety of interests, lifestyles and abilities.

Note: This section refers mainly to the activities that people pursue outdoors, whether as part of organized events or independently in parks and nature. For a discussion of people’s general feelings towards parks and natural areas, see Urban Livability: Parks and Open Spaces.

Summary of Main Ideas

  1. It is important to be able to easily access outdoor activities.
  2. Outdoor activities help communities become healthier and more connected.
  3. The City should seek to increase the variety of outdoor activities available to residents.
  4. Access to outdoor activities should be distributed equitably across the city.

MAIN IDEAS

  1. It is important to be able to easily access outdoor activities.
  • Portlanders seek to preserve easy access to a wide range of outdoor activities within the city, including:
    • Farmers Markets;
    • Cycling and walking;
    • Street fairs and outdoor cultural celebrations (such as Cinco de Mayo and Alberta Street's Last Thursdays); and
    • Hiking in open spaces such as Mt. Tabor Park and Forest Park.
  • It is important to be able to access outdoor activities by multiple modes of transportation, including by foot, by bike, wheelchair and by public transportation.
  • Portlanders value living in proximity to areas that offer outdoor activities. Portlanders attribute this proximity primarily to:
    • The small size of the city;
    • The integration of nature within the city in the form of parks and open spaces;
    • The Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), which has preserved open space on the outskirts of the city;
    • The natural geography of Portland, which places it near rivers, mountains and forests; and
    • The foresight of community planners and others who set aside parks and wild areas before these places were developed.
“The scenery and outdoor activities are just awesome. The mountains, the parks, the gorge…I get out almost every weekend. I’ve been here for four months or so…moved here from Boston for a job.”

“Portland’s relationship to the outdoors…green spaces, rivers, bike friendly…This makes Portland what it is and why it’s valued by old timers like myself.”

“I appreciate the quality of life here, particularly the green spaces, the relatively clean air, the river access, the great walking trails, the parks. This city invites you to be outdoors.”

Sample Strategies:

  1. Increase the number of recreational areas in the city, including neighborhood parks, off-leash dog areas, hiking/biking trails, skate parks and athletic fields.
  2. Protect existing “wild spaces,” including Forest Park, Mt. Tabor Park and other natural areas in which people can hike, observe wildlife and have a feeling of “getting away from it all” within the city limits.
  3. Expand public transportation services, so that existing outdoor areas are accessible to a larger number of Portlanders.
  4. Keep rural areas close at hand by maintaining the Urban Growth Boundary.
  5. Purchase land now to turn into greenspace, future parks and future wild areas. If we wait, it will become unavailable and/or unaffordable.
  6. “Encourage developers to include more landscaping and play areas/outdoor sitting areas in new developments.”
  1. Outdoor activities help communities become healthier and more connected.
  • Portlanders see outdoor activities and areas as providing another form of “community space,” places where neighbors, family members or people with similar interests can connect.
  • Portlanders enjoy seeing people “out and about” and feel that the abundance of outdoor activities helps keep Portland vibrant.
  • Portlanders see a wide variety of easily-accessible outdoor activities/areas as a way to encourage healthy and active lifestyles among residents.
  • Community activities such as Bridgepedal, farmers markets, Last Thursdays and others “give people a reason to go outside and get active.”
  • Portlanders are highly supportive of trails, paths and areas that encourage walking and cycling.
“The farmers markets and festivals are events that build community and encourage fresh air and exercise. I love being able to do all my errands on foot!”

  1. The City should seek to increase the variety of outdoor activities available to residents.
  • Portlanders want outdoor activities to accommodate and nurture a wide variety of interests, skills and abilities.
  • Portlanders would like to see:
    • More family and children-focused activities;
    • More neighborhood and city-wide outdoor festivals;
    • Cost-free events and activities;
    • More skate parks (in Lents and other parts of the city);
    • More outdoor activities for youth and teens;
    • Activities for people with disabilities;
    • More neighborhood farmers’ markets; and
    • More athletic fields;
  • A cleaner Willamette river to swim in.
"I love how the city supports community involvement during the summer months (concerts in the park, movies in Pioneer Square, etc…) and would like to see more options offered during the rainy season.”

  1. Access to outdoor activities should be distributed equitably across the city.
  • Portlanders desire a more equitable distribution of outdoor recreational areas/facilities, with lower-income and outlying neighborhoods given their “fair share” of resources.
  • Some outdoor activities that could be more equitably distributed include:
    • Farmers markets, which many low-income neighborhoods lack;
    • Street fairs and cultural festivals, similar to “Last Thursdays” on Alberta Street, but unique in character to each neighborhood;
    • Walking and biking trails, especially in outer neighborhoods that lack well-maintained roads or sidewalks;
    • Community gardens; and
    • Concerts in the park and other cultural events. Some neighborhoods are park-deficient and do not have easy access to these types of activities.
“[I would like to see] soccer fields and basketball courts in areas where there is poverty and gangs, but currently no fields or courts.”

“Free parks and community events in all areas not just downtown.”

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