Overview
Building on the Healthy Businesses Permitting Program, PBOT's Street Plazas initiative emerged to provide critical outdoor spaces for business use and community gatherings. Due to the popularity and success of this program, PBOT is now developing a comprehensive Street Plaza Program to support the ongoing establishment, management, and stewardship of these vibrant community spaces.
Current Public Engagement
This summer, our team is conducting extensive community outreach to better understand Portlander's needs, hopes, and aspirations for plazas. Key components of our engagement efforts include:
- Ongoing Meetings and Correspondences: We are continuously meeting and corresponding with community partners to ensure diverse perspectives are included in our planning.
- 2024 Plaza Survey: Gathering feedback through our plaza survey to shape the future of these spaces based on community input.
- Plaza Ambassador Volunteer Program: Our newly established Plaza Ambassador Volunteer Program engages plaza goers directly. Plaza ambassadors are our eyes and ears on the ground, engaging with the community and gathering valuable insights all summer long.
Past Project Development Events
April 16, 2024 - Urban Design Panel: Portland Street Plazas
Representatives from PBOT and Mayer/Reed outlined the vision for Portland Street Plazas and shared insights into the program's development. This event highlighted the collaborative efforts to create dynamic and inclusive public spaces that reflect the unique character of our city.
Committee Meetings
- Design Commission presentation 1/19/23 Meeting Agenda
- Historic Landmarks Commission presentation 1/23/23 Meeting Agenda
- Pedestrian Advocacy Committee presentation 1/17/23 Meeting Agenda
Community Sounding Board Meetings
PBOT has hosted periodic sounding board meetings related to this project, with invitation and participation to community organizations, existing street plaza stakeholders, and culturally specific stakeholders to advise on project topics and recommendations. Representatives included members from Old Town Community Association, MESO, Portland State University, Soul District Business Association, Street Trust, Oregon Walks, Friends of Green Loop, Symbiop, Montavilla Plaza, Overlook Neighborhood Association, PDX Black Excellence, Travel Oregon, Venture Portland, City Repair, NW Slavic Community Center.
April 5, 2023
- Overview: Kick-off meeting introducing the Street Plaza program, discussing favorite public spaces, and reviewing the engagement approach.
- Findings: Participants shared diverse favorite public spaces and initial thoughts on the importance of inclusive design and community involvement.
July 27, 2023
- Overview: Mid-project meeting to review community feedback, draft program goals, design elements, and engagement strategies.
- Findings: Feedback emphasized the need for safety improvements, connectivity to public transportation, and the importance of community partnerships.
September 18, 2023
- Overview: Final meeting to finalize program goals and design typologies, review feedback, and plan next steps.
- Findings: Consensus on the need for regular maintenance, inclusion of natural elements, and ensuring plazas reflect the cultural diversity of their neighborhoods.
Focus Groups
Focus groups were organized to gather in-depth insights from specific community groups, including mutual aid organizations, residents, businesses, and advocates for people with disabilities and BIPOC communities. These sessions aimed to identify design opportunities, understand community needs, and address challenges in accessing public spaces. The feedback collected will inform the development and governance of inclusive and accessible street plazas.
September 14, 2023
- Group 1: Mutual Aid & Culturally Specific Community Representatives
- Overview: Discussed design opportunities, favorite plaza elements, and challenges in accessing public spaces.
- Findings: Highlighted the importance of natural elements and multilingual features for inclusivity.
- Group 2: Montavilla Community Representatives
- Overview: Explored community-specific needs, preferred activities, and involvement in plaza creation.
- Findings: Emphasized the need for amenities such as restrooms and trash bins, and spaces for diverse activities.
September 20, 2023
- Group 3: East Portland and Slavic Community
- Overview: Identified design features, governance participation, and barriers to access.
- Findings: Participants prioritized safety features like adequate lighting and accessible pathways for wheelchairs.
September 21, 2023
- Group 4: Disability Community Representatives and Advocates
- Overview: Focused on accessibility, inclusivity in design, and overcoming participation challenges.
- Findings: Called for more accessible design elements, including tactile maps and shaded areas.
- Group 5: BIPOC Business Representatives
- Overview: Discussed economic development, cultural representation, and engagement strategies.
- Findings: Stressed the importance of public art and economic opportunities for local businesses in plaza spaces.
Community Pop-up Events
Community pop-up events were designed to engage plaza visitors in informal, lively settings to gather their feedback on the Street Plaza program. These events provided an opportunity to hear firsthand experiences and preferences from a diverse range of community members. The insights gained will help shape the future design and use of street plazas to better serve the needs of Portlanders.
August 30, 2023
- Location: Ankeny Rainbow Road (SE Ankeny St between SE 27th and SE 28th Avenues)
- Overview: Engaged with plaza visitors during Bike Happy Hour, gathering feedback on plaza experiences and preferences.
- Attendance: Plaza visitors, including cyclists and local community members.
- Findings: Participants appreciated the community feel but noted the need for more permanent hardscaping and clearer guidelines on plaza usage.
September 7, 2023
- Location: NW 13th Ave Plazas (SW Harvey Milk Street between W Burnside Street and SW 12th Avenue)
- Overview: Held informal conversations with visitors, discussing plaza usage and collecting input on desired features.
- Attendance: Plaza visitors and local community members.
- Findings: Visitors suggested improvements in bicycle flow and additional features like exercise equipment and playgrounds.
September 8, 2023
- Location: Montavilla Plaza (SE 79th Avenue & SE Stark Street)
- Overview: Engaged community members during Thursdays on the Plaza event, gathering feedback on plaza improvements and activities.
- Attendance: Community members, local residents, and event attendees.
- Findings: Highlighted the need for better maintenance, more events, and improved signage and public amenities such as seating and trash cans.
Street Plaza Program Development Mailing List
Stay informed by joining the PBOT Street Plazas mailing list.