Stay Informed and Involved
The Rose City Golf Course Trail project updates will be provided via email and on the project website. Entering your email address here will ensure that you are included on an email alert every time PP&R provides a project update.
Add your email to the Rose City Recreational Trail Project contact list
Anticipated Project Schedule
- Spring 2024 - Summer 2024: Project Set Up
- Summer 2024 - Winter 2024/25: Schematic Design and Community Engagement
- Spring 2025 - Fall 2025: Design Development, Construction Documents, Permitting, and Bidding
- Winter 2025 - Fall 2026: Construction
Project Background
The Rose City Golf Course, built in 1923, is the second oldest municipal course in Oregon. Located in the Madison South neighborhood, it borders Roseway to the north and Rose City Park to the southwest. The Rose City Recreation Trail project will enhance access to nature and provide opportunities for exercise and community enjoyment at this historic site.
Following the successful passage of Metro's 2019 Parks and Nature Bond, PP&R staff developed a list of eligible projects, which was refined through community engagement and approved by the Portland City Council in 2022. This project list includes adding and enhancing trails at Rose City Golf Course to improve community accessibility to nature.
To qualify for the 2019 Metro Bond Local Share funds, PP&R met Metro’s public engagement criteria. The project will create a new trail and improve existing ones, ensuring safety and neighborhood connectivity.
Additionally, $2 million in System Development Charges (SDCs) has been allocated to the trail project to enhance its capacity in line with its goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
We're committed to keeping community informed with accurate information throughout the development of the Rose City Recreation Trail. To help answer common questions, we've created a dedicated page with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on a range of project and process related questions.
Visit the FAQ page to stay updated!
Project Updates
Community Survey #2
Thank you to the 320+ community members who completed the community survey! The survey's goal was to gather community priorities for trail segments and amenities to help the project team allocate budget to best match with community needs.
The survey was open October 23, 2024 to December 9, 2024.
Please view the full survey results at the linked PDF below.
October 2024
Community Meeting 2 Summary:
On October 16, revised preliminary designs were presented to community at our virtual webinar event. We were joined by the Parks Rangers and Director of Golf Programs to provide additional information to community members around common topics we have heard during engagement.
Many thanks to the 80+ people who joined the meeting live and submitted questions to the Q&A. There were more questions than time for answers, so we encourage folks to take the project survey linked above to share additional input!
Watch a recording of the community meeting here.
or copy and paste this link into browser search bar to access: https://youtu.be/wq_ISxgKrm4
Slides from Community Meeting:
Meeting Transcript:
September 2024
Preliminary Schematic Design Concept- September 19
The project design consultant has shared a Preliminary Schematic Design Concept! The design concept is an early visual representation of the project that outlines the general layout and features. It helps convey how the project will look and function, including key elements like paths and facilities. This concept serves as a foundation for further development and refinement, allowing for community feedback before finalization
Trail Segment information and highlights:
Red – Primary Trail
- East – West Connector
- Connect Rose City Park & Leodis V. Mcdaniel High School
- Fully ADA Compliant
- Better Connections to Existing Crosswalks
- Wayfinding and Signage
- Possible Kiosk/Trailhead
- Possible ROW complications
- Approximately 1.1 Mile Trail
Green – Bluff Trail
- Improve and enhance Existing Soft Surface Trails
- Improve connections to Rose City Park, the Sacramento Bluff Trail and NE 72nd
- Create consistency, stability, and better drainage
- Create seating areas where views are located
- Create “Bump-Outs” for safe passing and resting
- Improve Access to native trees, plants, and wildlife
- Enhanced trail junctions to support multiple users
- Native plant and wildlife interpretive signage
Yellow – 72nd Connector Trail
- Improve connection of NE Tillamook St. to Roseway Heights Middle School
- Improve safety along NE 72nd with wider, delineated shoulders, signage and wayfinding features
- Enhance existing desire path from NE 72nd to Sacramento Bluff by softening grades, improving surfaces, and split rail fencing
- Create consistency, stability, and better drainage
- Complete an approximately 1.4 mile “Loop” around West side of property
Blue – Back Nine “Nature Trail”
- Completes full “loop” of property
- Provides greater access to large trees and nature on the back nine
- Soft Surface, gravel or wood chips
- Greater Slopes increase construction costs
- Potential conflicts with golf activities
- Potential conflicts with Maintenance Staff
- Sensitive wildlife habitat considerations
- Approximately 0.7 Mile Trail
Site Walk: Reviewing Property Boundaries Along Potential Trail Route - September 17
During the site walk, staff and homeowners reviewed the section of the potential trail that runs adjacent to residential property lines. The walkthrough focused on identifying where private property ends and public park land begins, ensuring clear understanding of boundary lines for future trail development. This effort was part of our due diligence to ensure all segments of the trail align with city planning and community standards.
August 2024
Back-to-School Fair at Ellington Apartments - August 17
We participated in the fair to raise awareness about the project and gather community feedback. Information was also shared on PP&R recreation programs, workforce development, and Summer Free For All events.
Fitness in the Park at Rose City Golf Course Club House - August 15
We conducted outreach at existing community event to raise awareness about the project and encourage community members to sign up for newsletter updates.
Project Focus Group - August 14
A focus group is one tool available to community engagement coordinators based on the City of Portland’s Public Involvement Toolkit. This focus group is a casual gathering intended to foster in-depth discussions that may be difficult in larger meetings. While providing valuable insight, this group is not a formal governing body. The feedback and discussions will not result in formal recommendations or final decisions on the project.
As discussed in our community meetings, we seek to center communities that have not benefited equitably from past investments and include those who live in the neighborhood(s) surrounding the project site.
Focus Group materials and agenda:
Focus Group discussion summary:
July 2024
Summer Free For All Concert at Glenhaven Park - July 18
We tabled at the concert event to raise awareness about the project and gather community feedback. We also recruited for Focus Group Members with sign up form available. Information was also shared on PP&R recreation programs, workforce development, and community grant opportunities.
Site Walk: Cycling Advocates and Neighbors - July 11
A site walk was held with cycling advocates and local residents to discuss the potential inclusion of cycling in the recreational trail project. Following discussions with the Metro Bond Committee and PBOT Bike Advisory Committee, it was confirmed that cycling should be part of the design, reflecting the needs of many neighbors who commute through the area. The focus of the walk was on ensuring safe and reasonable integration of cycling, with an emphasis on supporting youth cycling and safe commuting.
June 2024
Site Walk: Metro coordinator and Project Manager - June 11
We hosted Metro Parks & Nature Accessibility Project Manager for a site walk to review the project area and provide background. The goal was to gather expert input on ADA improvements and explore the potential for adaptive cycling within the project.
Site Walk: McDaniel's High School Cross Country and Track Coach - June 3
We conducted a site walk with the coach to gather insights from high school athletic staff regarding safe running routes for students. During our discussion, we also highlighted the upcoming Rose City Championship, which will be hosted at the Rose City Golf Course and is expected to draw 5,000 participants.
May 2024
Community Meeting #1 Survey- April 25-May 31
We opened a community survey to gather feedback on trail segments and gain a deeper understanding of the community's perspectives and priorities for the project site.
Survey Summary forth coming and will be posted on this project webpage!
Neighborhood Association Meeting - May 28
We attended the joint Roseway and Rose City Park Neighborhood Association meetings, providing tabling materials with summer engagement dates and a presentation from the Kick-off meeting. A Q&A session was held with attendees, and participants were encouraged to share additional input through the community survey.
Roseway Heights Middle School and Ellington Apartment Residents Community Dinner- May 21
We joined a community dinner hosted by the SUN School Program and the Youth Program Coordinator from Trash for Peace to connect with middle school families residing at Ellington Apartments. This outreach focused on raising project awareness, encouraging families to take the community survey, and providing a recap of the Kick-off meeting for those who were unable to attend.
April 2024
Community Meeting 1 - April 25
Project Introduction and Overview: At this meeting we introduced the project team, learned about project background, goals and opportunities. There was the introduction of potential trail location, surface, and meaningful elements of engagement along the trail.
Watch Meeting Recording and Access Transcript Here
Slides from Community Meeting:
February 2024
Site walk: Neighborhood Associations and Home Forward staff – February 23
Our newly onboarded project manager conducted the first site walk with stakeholders identified in the fall of 2023. This walk served as an introduction to both the stakeholders and the project site, highlighting the project's potential and fostering collaboration among community partners.