News Release: Sunday Parkways announces 2016 season featuring new route linking Milwaukie to Portland, new Sellwood Bridge

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(Feb. 17, 2016)  - The Portland Bureau of Transportation and presenting sponsor Kaiser Permanente announced the Sunday Parkways 2016 schedule, featuring five traffic-free events through Portland neighborhoods, including a new route linking the cities of Portland and Milwaukie and crossing the new Sellwood Bridge.

“Sunday Parkways is a great celebration of Portland,” said Commissioner Steve Novick, who oversees PBOT. “It connects our neighborhoods and inspires people to try biking and walking for fun, health and transportation. After trying Sunday Parkways, Portlanders often add biking and walking to their daily lives.”

The City of Portland Sunday Parkways presented by Kaiser Permanente begins on May 15 in East Portland and finishes in October with the Sellwood/Milwaukie event.

Sunday Parkways 2016

(Click image for high-res version.)

Sunday Parkways is a series of free community events opening the city's largest public space—its streets—for people to walk, bike, roll and discover active transportation. The events are hugely popular. Total attendance in 2015 set a record 119,000.

“Sunday Parkways is a unique event for folks to discover and explore a neighborhood in the more intimate way that walking and biking allows,” Milwaukie Mayor Mark Gamba said. “Milwaukie is excited to welcome people from across the metro region to come explore our cool little city and some of what it has to offer.”

Organizers emphasize the ways people can create the Sunday Parkways experience every day. All five Sunday Parkways routes showcase low-traffic streets called neighborhood greenways as well as City parks ideal for bicycling and walking. The Sellwood/Milwaukie route in October will introduce participants to the expanded biking and walking paths on the new Sellwood Bridge. This Sunday Parkways route will also show how to safely, easily and conveniently use this new option to head into Portland, and it helps Portlanders discover the growing city of Milwaukie.

“Portland loves Sunday Parkways and we’re sure Milwaukie will too,” Portland Transportation Director Leah Treat said. “With the help of longtime presenting sponsor Kaiser Permanente, our community comes together to embrace our streets as livable space that everyone can enjoy.”

Residents and visitors say they come to enjoy the traffic-free streets connecting parks and schools filled with activities, music and vendors. It’s safe, family-friendly and a chance to meet neighbors.

The dates and locations for Sunday Parkways 2016:

East Portland

May 15, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (7 miles)

North Portland

June 26, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (9.5 miles)

Northeast Portland

July 24, 11a.m. to 4 p.m. (8 miles)

Southeast Portland

Aug. 21, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (7 miles)

Sellwood/Milwaukie

Oct. 2, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (8 miles)

Community groups and vendors interested in participating in Sunday Parkways, or volunteers who want to help make it happen, should contact PBOT at 503-823-7599 or visit PortlandSundayParkways.org.

PBOT organizes Sunday Parkways, working with longtime presenting sponsor Kaiser Permanente and returning partners and sponsors Portland Parks & Recreation, Metro, Clif Kid, Bike Gallery, Whole Foods, NW Natural, Lam Research, Umpqua Bank, and AARP of Oregon.

New partners to date for the 2016 Sunday Parkways are the City of Milwaukie Farmers Market and IKEA. PBOT and other City funds cover a third of the program costs, and two-thirds of funding comes from sponsors, vendors and individual supporters.

For more information, including route maps, visit PortlandSundayParkways.org or call 503-823-7599.

Sunday Parkways sponsors

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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility.www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation