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 2025: Schematic Design and Community Engagement
- Spring 2025 - Winter 2025: Design Development, Construction Documents, Permitting, and Bidding
- Winter 2026 - 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
April 2025
90% Construction Documents
We have reached the 90% Construction Documents (CDs) phase of the Rose City Recreation Trail Project! This means that we have almost finished the detailed plans used to construct the trails. These plans include major design elements, materials used, budget estimates, and how we will protect the environment and nearby trees.
The trail project plans have been shared with PP&R leadership and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for review. After their feedback has been fully incorporated into documents, they will be submitted to the Bureau of Development Services (BDS) who conducts the permitting process. The permitting process will include a review by several city agencies like the Water Bureau, Urban Forestry, the Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES).They will make sure that plans meet safety, environmental, and city code requirements.
Final designs and required permits will depend on the outcomes of this review.
Once final designs have been approved, we will move forward toward the final design plans, or 100% Construction Documents. Once 100% CDs have been finalized, the plans will be resubmitted for final approval by BDS.
During this time, we will be working to develop a comprehensive signage and wayfinding plan. The Signage and wayfinding plan with samples graphics will be posted this summer with additional project updates.
Trail Plan Overview
Designs presented in the 90% CD phase for the Rose City Recreation Trail detail four interconnected segments—each tailored to meet project goals while enhancing access, connectivity, and user experience for all.
If the full loop is constructed, it will span approximately 2.2 miles following the perimeter of the golf course and connecting to nearby neighborhoods, schools, and public transit.
Trail segments are designed to meet ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) for outdoor developed areas, terms used in the trail segment updates reference these guidelines. For more details, refer to the ADAAG Outdoor Developed Areas guidelines.
See full screen view of Rose City Recreation Trail Overview Map here
Trail Segment highlights:
Red – Primary Trail: 1.2 miles, 10 feet wide, fully accessible asphalt surface
- Serves as the main ADA-accessible route across the site, linking Rose City Park at NE 62nd Drive to NE 82nd Avenue.
- Smooth asphalt surface supports high-volume, all-abilities use.
- Bikes allowed.
- Three new or upgraded ADA-compliant entry points at:
- NE 62nd Avenue and NE Thompson Street
- NE 65th Avenue and NE Tillamook Street
- NE 80th Avenue and NE Thompson Street
- Trailhead and Kiosk Area shown in design plan below includes:
- Accessible signage kiosk with trail distance and surface descriptions.
- Crushed gravel gathering areas with tables and natural seating.
- New native planting areas.
- Split rail fencing to guide trail users and protect new plantings.
See full screen view of Trailhead and Kiosk plan here
Green – Bluff Trail: 0.6 miles, partially accessible gravel and natural surface
- Existing trail will be upgraded with a firmer surface and widened to at least 36 to 48 inches in several locations.
- Bumps out areas, some with natural seating elements to offer rest spots.
- Split rail fencing to protect native plantings.
- Bikes allowed.
Yellow – 72nd Connector Trail: 0.4 miles, partially accessible gravel surface
- Switchback route will support more accessible grade transitions up hillside to NE Sacramento Street.
- Improved drainage and stability, supporting accessibility along NE 72nd.
- Safety and visibility enhanced by:
- Potential new signed and marked pedestrian crossing at base of NE 72nd hill (PBOT).
- Strategic boulder placement.
- Split rail fencing to guide circulation and protect plantings.
- Small community gathering space at the north end of NE 72nd Drive shown in design plan below includes:
- Natural seating elements like boulders and logs.
- Bike racks for trail users, school children, and community groups.
- New, xeric (drought tolerant) plantings added inside split rail fencing.
- Bikes allowed
See full screen view of 72nd Connector plan here
Blue – Back Nine Nature Trail: 0.8 miles, compact gravel surface
- Introduces a defined trail for low-impact access to the eastside of the golf course.
- Designed to promote low-speed users like walkers, joggers, wildlife viewers.
- Connections to Yellow Trail at NE 72nd Drive and Red Trail at NE 80th Avenue ensures route continuity, or "loop".
- Split rail fencing in key locations to protect habitat.
- Bikes not allowed.
March 2025
Since October, we’ve been incorporating your input from public comments, emails, and community surveys. Your feedback has been shared with our Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), along with the project design consultants. In mid-to-late April, we will have detailed visuals of the latest designs and provide insights into the next project phases. So please stay tuned!
Here is how your input has shaped the latest design updates:
What we heard: Top priorities for new trail amenities are additional native plants, natural seating, and directional signage and wayfinding.
What we did: The latest designs include more native plants where possible, lots of natural seating logs and boulders, and clear wayfinding signs to help you navigate the trails.
What we heard: Concerns about construction and trail activities impacting wildlife habitat and activity.
What we did: We’ve engaged with Federal, State, and Local wildlife and environmental regulators to ensure we fully understand all Best Management Practices (BMP’s) during the construction phase of the project. We have also worked with local urban raptor experts to understand our role in maintaining and enhancing the ability for these beautiful birds to continue thriving in and around Rose City Park and Golf Course. The Rose City Recreation Trail (RCRT) project will meet all environmental regulations to fulfill our goal to protect and enhance habitat.
What we heard: Concerns about safety related to trail users and golfers, especially the risk of golf balls near the trails.
What we did: We’ve adjusted trail locations to be as far away from fairways, greens, and tee boxes as possible. We have also included natural barriers, such as trees and shrubs, and split rail fencing with wire mesh, these changes balance safety with the project’s goal of creating free to access trails and greater access to nature close to home.
What we heard: Concerns about having a new trail on the back-nine golf course area, regarding golf and trail user interactions and negative impacts to wildlife habitat.
What we did: The latest community survey gathered broader feedback on this trail option. We asked which trails should be prioritized and presented three options for the Blue - Back Nine Nature Trail. Two designs featured a full loop, while one was a spur trail. Community members were invited to share their preferred option or choose “none” if they did not support the trail. This input helped to guide the next steps in the design process.
What we heard: A majority of community members and nearby residents preferred the option for a loop trail around the entire park and golf course.
What we are doing: We are working to balance the community’s strong preference for a full loop trail with safety, golf course operations, and environmental considerations, especially on the Blue - Back Nine Nature Trail. We are addressing concerns raised earlier in the process while refining the final designs. We are getting close to final decisions and layouts
What we heard: Interest in learning more about a comprehensive maintenance plan for the project/new trail system.
What we’re doing: As we move into final design and construction phases, the maintenance plans for the trail segments will be determined by the project TAC. Their feedback, like trail width for maintenance vehicles and selection of durable surfaces to reduces ongoing staffing needs, have already been integrated into the design as shared during the community meeting in fall 2024. The RCRT project will come with additional operations and maintenance funding to ensure the trail are clean, clear, and safe year-round.
Project Design Updates by Trail Segments
Red – Primary Trail
- Trail has been moved as far from fairways, tees, and greens as possible while also protecting trees along Tillamook and Ne Thompson to reduce the risk of golf balls to trail users.
- Project team has met with Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), and we are coordinating on additional ADA curb ramps for greater access to the Red – Primary Trail from NE Tillamook Street, NE 62nd Avenue, and NE Sacramento Street.
- Trailhead and Kiosk area layout has been refined to support PP&Rs Outdoor Education program, which will be moving into the old Rice School building this spring!
- We’ve created updated designs for the northern, chipped trail inside Rose City Park, leading up to the staircase in the northwest corner near Sacramento Street.
- We are exploring use of funds from PP&Rs ADA Transition Plan to remove accessibility barriers at the Sacramento staircase.However, we know that a fully accessible upgrade is limited by the non-ADA compliant routes connected to the stairs, including the lack of sidewalk on NE Sacramento Street.We are working to be fiscally responsible with project funding and focus on ADA-compliant routes.
Green – Bluff Trail
- The project team has flagged the length of the trail to determine specific areas for improvements, like repairing low or soft spots, adding small rock retaining walls, planting native plants, adding Outdoor Accessibility Standard gravel, and trail widening in narrow spots.
- The updated designs include several small “bump-outs” to create safer passing areas for trail users travelling at different speeds. These bump-outs will feature seating logs and boulders, offering spaces for resting, and nature watching.
- We’ve added split rail fencing in several sections to define the trail, protect plantings, and creating added safety.
Yellow – 72nd Connector Trail
- Updated designs include a refined “Gathering Area”, which features natural seating, xeric (low water) plantings, bike racks, split rail fencing, and gravel switch backs to make it easier for trail users to get up the hill to Sacramento Street.
- We’ve added boulders along parts of NE 72nd Drive to prevent cars from parking in the gravel shoulders and to deter illegal dumping.
- Drainage, grade improvements, and widening along NE 72nd Drive increase safety for users travelling at different speeds.
Blue – Back Nine Trail
- Design updates include adjustments to the trail alignment to minimize impacts on wildlife habitat and tree roots.
- We have collaborated with the Oregon Bird Alliance, the Bureau of Environmental Services, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to ensure that all environmental regulations and requirements are understood and incorporated into current designs.
- We’ve refined connections to the Yellow – 72nd Trail at the north end of NE 72nd Drive.
December 2024
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 through December 9, 2024.
Please view 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
Click linked text below to view slides from community meeting:
Click linked text below to view 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.