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The Metro Council on Thursday voted unanimously to approve a memorandum of understanding for construction of a public path through the former Blue Heron Paper Co. site.

The agreement acknowledges a partnership between Metro, the city of Oregon City, Clackamas County and the state of Oregon to create the estimated $30 million Willamette Falls Riverwalk. The planned path for pedestrians and bicyclists along the Willamette River through the Blue Heron site will give the public access to Willamette Falls for the first time in decades.

The project represents the first step toward revitalization of the site, which has been vacant since 2011 when the Blue Heron Paper Co. shut down, said Kathleen Brennan-Hunter, Metro natural areas program director.

鈥淭he goal is to make sure people can access the river and see the falls,鈥� she said.

Metro officials are set to next seek an easement to pave the way for a public path in cooperation with the site’s owner, Tacoma, Wash.-based developer George Heidgerken.

鈥淭his memorandum of understanding is a precursor to that,鈥� Brennan-Hunter said. 鈥淭here is a shared vision and there is a belief that the river walk is an important part of that vision.鈥�

Last year, the Oregon Legislature approved spending $5 million in lottery-backed bonds on the project. Metro officials will craft a plan to raise money to cover the rest of the project cost, Brennan-Hunter said.

鈥淣ow we’re going to be looking for public and private funds to put that project together,鈥� she said.

Meanwhile, Oregon City is moving ahead with a zone change proposal and master plan developed by Portland-based Walker Macy, city planner Christina Robertson-Gardiner said. Public hearings will take place in September and October before the plan goes before the Oregon City Planning Commission and City Council for approval, she said.

Oregon City officials hope building a public river path and changing the site’s zoning from industrial to mixed use will encourage private development there, Robertson-Gardiner said.

鈥淭hat really gives a trigger to investors that the site is ready to go,鈥� she said.