Open Call for Plaza Partners

• Neighborhood associations
• Business districts and related groups
• A nonprofit or other community based organization
• A business with support of surrounding businesses and community
• Educational institutions (All applications must be submitted by the administration of such school, or by an affiliated group with express permission from school administration)

Note: If you are an individual interested in placemaking opportunities please read about other options available to you including community events, block parties, street paintings, and reserving plazas for events.

Placemaking Opportunities

What makes a good partner?

View full size image of A large group of people from the December Ankeny Alley Association meeting pose in the alley.

• Ability to actively program the plaza space with events and other activations.
• Ability to be the on the ground eyes and ears of the space.
• Consistent and timely communication with PBOT staff.
• Partner's mission and vision aligns with the City’s Core Values of anti-racism, equity, transparency, communication, collaboration, and fiscal responsibility
• Partner capacity (e.g. staffing, budget, past successful partnerships).
  • Note: Special consideration of additional support will be given to partners in low-income communities

What makes a good site?

View full size image of A Diagram of a street plaza shows its many components including seating, planters, accessible paths, and emergency lanes,

Plaza locations are chosen based on their ability to support a safe, inviting, and vibrant public space. Here are lessons based on PBOT’s experience with past and current street plazas:

Which blocks typically work well as street plazas:

• Commercial streets with a mix of retail, restaurants, and small businesses on both sides of the street and existing foot traffic.
• In some cases underutilized streets with heavy programming and strong activation can be successful without active adjacent uses. See case study for Portland Dream Plaza below.
• Adjacent businesses actively engage with the plaza (e.g., through storefront windows, seating, or signage)

Which blocks are more challenging to transform into street plazas:

• Busier streets with high levels of noise or traffic
• Streets with parking lots or lots of driveway access needs
• Streets with freight and delivery needs

Note: other factors will be considered when selecting partners and sites for the 2026 plaza season, including:

• A letter of support from the associated neighborhood association and/or business association, if there is one. Submission of letter not required until round 2 (winter 2026).
• Proximity to pre-existing plazas. Preference will be given to neighborhoods and business districts that do not currently have a plaza.

What does PBOT provide?

PBOT lays the foundation for plazas by installing essential features and infrastructure, creating the groundwork for partners to bring each space to life.

• Guidance for plaza development
• Logistical support for the street closure
• Basic furnishing package (Planters, seating, sign holders, and traffic control devices)
• Mural painting logistical support and materials
• General maintenance of the space, such as furniture repairs and trash collection

What does a partner typically provide?

Partners bring plazas to life! Responsibilities vary depending on the desires and capacity of the partner. At a baseline, partners are responsible for :

• Programming of events and other activation
• Mural design and volunteer painters
• Engagement with the surrounding community
• Eyes and ears on the ground, serving as a point of contact with PBOT and surrounding stakeholders.

Past partners have taken further initiative to secure grants, partnerships, or take on fundraising efforts. These are not required but certainly help elevate a plaza’s potential. Read about two case studies below.

2025 Seasonal Plaza Case Studies

Heart of Hawthorne

View full size image of People lounge enjoying the new furniture right after painting Hawthorne Plaza.

Launched through a collaboration the Hawthorne Boulevard Business Association (HBBA), and the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association (SNA), the plaza features new seating, a colorful mural, and planters. The plaza’s creation was guided by extensive community input gathered through surveys, focus groups, and outreach at the Hawthorne Street Fair in 2023 and 2024, and it was funded by a $46,000 grant from Venture Portland allowing them to fund additional custom furniture, programming, and provide extra planter maintenance.

Portland Dream Plaza

View full size image of Folks on skateboards and bikes enjoy the Dream Big Plaza.

In 2025, the non-profit Dream Big City brought in local skateboarders and artists to design skate features and provide additional street art to their seasonal plaza at SE Taylor and 9^th. Most of the materials for the plaza were donated from local businesses. Their weekly summer Fam Jam events, with free food and activities, ensured the space was frequently active.

Timeline

Round 1: 

Initial Plaza Partner Applications – survey about vision, programming, stewardship capacity, neighborhood/demographic served, location ideas

• October 1^st – December 1^st (survey open for 8 weeks)
• Public Info Session Wednesday, October 22^nd - 6:00 to 7:00 PM
  • View the recording below
• Top applicants moving forward to Round 2 notified by Friday, January 30^th

Round 2:

Refining Plaza Proposals with PBOT – finding the right location, initial outreach - confirming interest from neighbors, budget/funding conversations, submitting final proposal

• February 1^st – March 1^st (4 weeks)
• Each applicant group gets to meet with plaza staff and may use them as a resource when refining proposals
• Final submissions due Sunday, March 1^st 

PBOT Review of Final Proposals: First week of March 

Announcement of New Plazas: Tuesday, March 10^th

Plaza Planning: March 10^th – June 1^st (11 weeks)

Trial Plazas Open for the Summer: June – August/September (8-12 weeks)

Watch: Open Call Info Session

Ready to apply? 

Applications are now open. Submit your initial proposal by December 1st, 2025.

Apply Now

Additional Questions and Answers

Question: Can I see the application questions before I apply? 

Answer: Sure! Below the application questions listed. 

1. I am applying as a:
   1. A neighborhood association
   2. A business association
   3. A nonprofit or community-based organization
   4. A business
   5. An education institution
2. Please enter information about your organization
   1. Name of organization:
   2. Primary contact name:
   3. Your role:
   4. Email:
   5. Phone:
   6. Neighborhood:
   7. Business District (if applicable):
3. Tell us about your organization. (History, mission, accomplishments)
4. What capacity does your organization have to help maintain and activate the space? This could include taking care of plants, designing a street painting, hosting events, minor cleaning, monitoring of space, and communicating with PBOT. (In your response consider staffing, volunteer capacity, funding, and other factors. Please note: special consideration of additional support will be given to partners in low-income communities.)
5. Please enter information about your proposed location
6. City Council District of potential plaza (View Map):
7. Specific locations of interest (provide blocks and other contextual details):
8. Why is this location(s) a good spot for a street plaza? (for specific blocks, please consider vehicle access needs such as driveways):
9. What is your vision for the plaza?
10. What types of programming or activities do you imagine happening in the proposed plaza?
11. Have you already connected with neighbors, organizations, and nearby businesses about this idea? If so, who? What has been the general response?
12. If not, would you be willing to do outreach with the neighborhood about your proposal this fall/winter?

Thank you! Check back for more questions and answers.

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