News Release: Portland Sunday Parkways Presented by Kaiser Permanente to Celebrate World Car-Free Day on Sept. 22 in Southwest Multnomah

Press Release
Family-friendly activities and car-free streets in SW Portland on Sunday
Published
Updated
An adult and child wearing bike helmets wave as they ride their bikes on SW Capitol Highway during the 2023 SW Sunday Parkways event

An adult and child wearing bike helmets wave as they ride their bikes on SW Capitol Highway during the 2023 SW Sunday Parkways event. More family friendly fun is coming when Sunday Parkways returns to SW Portland this Sunday. Photo by Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT).


(Sept. 19, 2024) The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is excited to announce the final Sunday Parkways event of 2024, presented by Kaiser Permanente, taking place in Southwest Multnomah on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

The Southwest Portland event will feature a 2-mile multi-modal route for people biking and rolling, and a separate 1.5-mile route for pedestrians and runners due to the hilly nature in this neighborhood. Participants are welcome to join at any point along the routes and head in any direction. These event routes are designed to highlight the network of neighborhood greenways and other infrastructure, parks, and community resources. There will be areas along the route and at the featured parks where circulation slows for vendor marketplaces, community booths, free family-friendly activities, and live entertainment.

"Sunday Parkways provides a fantastic opportunity for all Portlanders to experience the beauty and livability of the Multnomah neighborhood. We take pride in our neighborhood and can't wait to show it off in such a unique way." Moses Ross – President, Multnomah Neighborhood Association 

This event is especially notable as it marks Portland’s first-ever Sunday Parkways funded by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). Passed by voters in 2018, PCEF invests in community-led projects that support social, economic, and environmental benefits for all Portlanders. Portland Sunday Parkways’ mission aligns with these goals by connecting Portlanders to their neighborhood parks and community resources, encouraging environmentally friendly transportation practices, and providing inclusive programming that supports community health and well-being.    

"We are excited to be part of Sunday Parkways," said PCEFStrategic Partnerships and Policy ManagerJaimes Valdez. "This is more than a fun community event. Bringing folks together at the intersection of equitable, sustainable transportation and providing numerous community benefits is what PCEF is all about. We're proud to be partnering with PBOT."  

Traffic impacts

Sunday Parkways SW Portland 2024 detailed map

This map of this Sunday's Sunday Parkways event in Southwest Portland notes a 2-mile multimodal route and the 1.5-mile walking route, and where car traffic can cross through. Map features Gabriel Park, the Multnomah Arts Center, Multnomah Village, and Spring Garden Park. Map by PBOT.

From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, sections of roads throughout the Southwest Multnomah neighborhood will be closed to motor vehicles to create a safe, car-free space for event participants. The event route’s intersections will have temporary barricades set up with volunteers available to help people get where they need to go.  

The Southwest Portland Sunday Parkways route will feature the following designated crossings for motorized vehicles to access during the event:  

The Southwest Portland Sunday Parkways route will feature the following designated crossings for motorized vehicles to access during the event:  

  • SW 35th Avenue & SW Vermont Street  
  • SW 35th & SW Capitol Highway  
  • SW 35th Avenue & SW Multnomah Boulevard  
  • SW 35th Avenue & SW Falcon Street   

TriMet buses 44 –Capitol Hwy/Mocks Crest and 45 – Garden Home will observe a re-route during the event, starting at 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The bus re-routes during the event are included in the above map graphic.  

Residents along the route will be able to access their homes with the help of volunteers but are encouraged to plan ahead and use alternative routes to avoid delays. Visit the SW Sunday Parkways Google Map at bit.ly/swmap24 to review suggested vehicle routes and TriMet’s reroutes for buses 44 and 45.  

While Portland Sunday Parkways community events are designed to be accessible, the Southwest Multnomah route and featured locations include a variety of surfaces and conditions. Please visit bit.ly/swsp24ada to help you prepare for the day and what to expect.

Be a part of this open street celebration!
 

A big crowd of Sunday Parkways participants walking along the Multnomah vendor marketplace in 2023

A big crowd of Sunday Parkways participants walk and talk with vendors at the Multnomah vendor marketplace during the open street event in 2023. More marketplaces are coming, when the event returns to SW Portland this Sunday. Photo by PBOT.

Taking place on World Car-Free Day, the Southwest Multnomah Sunday Parkways community event encourages Portlanders to leave their cars behind for the day, reducing their carbon footprint while enjoying the many health and environmental benefits of walking, biking, rolling, and playing.   

“Me gusta que es un evento familiar y a mi me gusta mucho andar en bici al aire librey en Sunday Parkways las rutas son muy seguras”
- Marlene, ABC - Andando en Bicicletas y Caminando, a group that advocates for biking and walking in the Cully neighborhood.

[“I like that it is a family event and I really like to ride a bike outdoors and on Sunday Parkways the routes are very safe”] 

In addition to the car-free streets, the event will feature a variety of free activities for all ages, including live entertainment, fitness classes, and local vendors. Highlights include:   

  • Join  SW Trailsfor a 1.5 mile guided walk on the Sunday Parkways walking route and learn about all kinds of walking opportunities in the neighborhood. To join the walk, meet at any of the following times and locations: 

Spring Garden info booth 11:30 a.m. 

Multnomah Village SW Capitol Hwy and 36 Ave info booth 12:30 p.m. 

Gabriel Park info booth 1:15 p.m. 

Multnomah Village SW Capitol Hwy and 36 Ave info booth 2:00 p.m.  

  • Walk with white cane users and guide dogs! Meet at Gabriel Park’s White Cane Awareness booth at 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. for a ½-mile walk in the neighborhood. Learn about their navigation techniques, the extra awareness they use to safely move on sidewalks and cross streets, and how to be more aware of them while driving.
  • Experience the wow factor of modern electric bikes with River City E-Bikes. Test ride E-City, E-Cargo, and E-Gravel models in the Multnomah Arts Center parking lot.  
  • BoomBike PDX will conquer the SW hills on their pedal-powered mobile stage, showcasing live performances by Heather Normandale as they ride the route.  
  • Celebrate local culture and diversity by exploring the vibrant marketplaces, which include community organizations, non-profit groups, retail and food vendors, Multnomah Village businesses, and Native artists hosted by the Native American Youth and Family Center. 

Keep up to date on the event details by texting "Southwest" to 888-520-0526. For the full list of exciting entertainment and activities, visit bit.ly/swfun24. There’s something for everyone—come join the fun!

For more information, visit www.portland.gov/sunday-parkways or call 311 / 503-823-4000.  

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About Portland Sunday Parkways  

Portland Sunday Parkways presented by Kaiser Permanente is a Portland Bureau of Transportation program. Portland Sunday Parkways promotes healthy living, environmental awareness, and community engagement through a series of free open street events where Portlanders can explore active transportation by walking, biking, or rolling. For more information, visit www.portland.gov/sunday-parkways or call 311 / 503-823-4000.  

Stay up to date on exciting updates and announcements! Follow us on Facebook at PortlandSundayParkways and on Instagram at PortlandSundayParkways.  

About Kaiser Permanente  

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and nonprofit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.5 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.  

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. Learn more at portland.gov/transportation

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