See something we could improve on this page? Give website feedback.
Label:
News article
Portland announces a basic sidewalk cleaning service along major business corridors and other high-impact areas. Crews on trikes and trucks clean up trash and biohazards from the sidewalks in busy locations so people can go to school, get to work, go shopping and keep appointments.
Published
Updated
UPDATED 11-12-2025 with quotes and photos.
The City of Portland is pleased to announce a basic sidewalk cleaning service along major business corridors and other high-impact areas to keep our community friendlier, safer, and more welcoming.
Starting in October 2025, Portland Solutions' Public Environment Management Office (PEMO) is rolling out basic sidewalk cleaning along major business corridors and city centers.
Crews on trikes and trucks visit Portland's busiest locations on a regular basis to clean up trash and biohazards from the sidewalks that people rely on to go to school and work, go shopping, keep appointments, and enjoy their neighborhoods.
Cleaner sidewalks promote health and safety for everyone, especially children, families, and vulnerable populations.
Cleaner sidewalks also support small businesses, make neighborhoods more inviting, and stoke community pride.
"Cleaning up the sidewalks is a great way to bring energy and foot traffic to our business districts," says Anne Hill, director of PEMO. "It helps everyone – seniors going shopping, kids walking home from school, people going to the dentist, you name it. Our contractors hire folks who are getting back on their feet. These jobs are a crucial milestone on the path to self-sufficiency for them."
How it works
Cleaning crews sweep sidewalks, pick up litter, clean biohazards, and pressure wash outdoor surfaces. They remove graffiti from city assets like bike racks, meters and trashcans.
In the central city, crews follow routes on pink tricycles.
In other parts of town, crews follow routes in trucks with pink signs.
The frequency depends on need—weekly, bi-monthly or quarterly. Crews may step up or step back their presence in a particular corridor depending on the conditions.
Cleaner sidewalks invite more people to stroll through their business districts, generating energy and buzz.
Partnering for Portland
The service is made possible by Portland City Council working together with Portland Solutions' Public Environment Management Office (PEMO). Building upon collaboration in the Gateway Service District that began in 2024, PEMO developed the concept and manages the contracts.
The work is performed by our contractors: Central City Concern and Cultivate.
Most of this service is supported by a PEMO budget allocation of $1.7 million from Portland City Council.
The service in the Gateway area is supported by a three-year partnership among the City, Multnomah County, and TriMet. Each partner is contributing $100,000 a year for three years.
Additional routes in District 4 are supported by allocations from Councilors Olivia Clark and Eric Zimmerman.
Quotes
"Central City Concern is thrilled to be delivering sidewalk cleaning services along some of our major business corridors through our Clean Start program," says Kris Jeffries, Clean Start Operations Manager for Central City Concern. "It's a great opportunity to provide full-time employment that provides consistent work opportunities while supporting our community's efforts to improve sidewalk cleanliness and promote recovery from homelessness."
"Community beautification is where purpose meets pavement," says Caleb Coder, executive director of Cultivate Initiatives. "Every bag we haul isn't just cleaner streets—it's paid work, pride, and a pathway forward for neighbors rebuilding their lives."
"This street cleaning pilot might seem like a small change, but it's going to mean a lot for our small businesses," says Laura Streib, president of St. Johns Boosters. "Sometimes it feels like everything's stacked against them, so having this kind of visible, consistent support brings a real boost of energy and morale. Clean, welcoming sidewalks make such a difference — for business owners, shoppers, and everyone who loves our downtown."
"The Stadiumhood community has carried the weight of limited resources and a sharp rise in homelessness-related impacts, all without the support of Enhanced Service Districts or other privately subsidized livability programs that are set up in other parts of Portland," says Michelle Milla of the Stadium neighborhood. "Seeing the City step in to restore some basics to our neglected public spaces and Safe Route To School along NW 19th Avenue means a great deal. Our working-class high-density neighborhood appreciates PEMO's rollout. Thank you."
Photos
Questions
Are you going to charge me for this? No. This is a free service brought to you by your Portland City Council.
How can I report drug activity? Contact the Portland Police Bureau online or call the tip line. Your information will remain confidential.
How do I get help for a person in distress? Portland Street Response assists people experiencing mental health and behavioral health crises.
- Call 911 or 503-823-PSR3 (7773) for service anywhere in the city.
- Learn more about Portland Street Response.
What do the crews do about campsites or people sleeping on sidewalks? Our crews are sidewalk cleaners, not outreach workers, but they can help people find services. You can also request services and report campsites online or by calling 3-1-1.
How do I report trash or graffiti? We have additional contracted partners to help, report online or by calling 3-1-1.
How is this connected to Clean & Safe and the City's Enhanced Services Districts? Those districts already provide trash cleanup, in addition to other services like graffiti removal. Basic Sidewalk Cleaning does not operate in those districts.
This sounds great. How do I request sidewalk cleaning on my street? We do not provide sidewalk cleaning on residential streets, but will consider suggestions for additional business corridors or high-impact areas. Contact us at pemo@portlandoregon.gov.
Which sidewalks will you clean?
Crews will clean sidewalks on the busiest stretches of Portland's major business corridors. Routes vary based on impact and need.
District 1
NE Sandy Boulevard
SE 122nd
E Burnside
SE Division
NE 82nd
SE Powell
NE Halsey
District 2
N Lombard
NE Killingsworth
N Williams
NE Alberta
N Mississippi
N Vancouver
NE Broadway
N Interstate
North Ainsworth
NE MLK
NE Cully
District 3
NE Sandy
E Burnside
NE 28th
SE Hawthorne
SE Division/Clinton
SE Belmont
SE Foster
SE Woodstock
NE & SE 82nd
SE 79th
SE 80th
SE Milwaukie
SE Powell
SE 12th
SE 7th
SE MLK
SE Grand
District 4
NW 21st
SE 13th (Sellwood)
SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway (Hillsdale)
SW Capitol Highway (Multnomah Village)
NW 23rd
West Burnside
NW Everett
NW Glisan
NW Lovejoy
NW 10th
NW 11th
NW 18th
NW 20th