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An extension of the North Park Blocks is in the works to provide open space within the Broadway Corridor.

Currently, the blocks run between Northwest Park and Eighth avenues from Southwest Ankeny Street to Northwest Glisan Street. Two sites covering a total of three blocks are targeted for the expansion: an approximately 30,000-square-foot parcel between Northwest Glisan and Hoyt streets (site 1), and two full blocks north of Hoyt Street to Johnson Street (site 2).

The Broadway Corridor master plan calls for the creation of these new park blocks as part of the required open space. The plan also includes the conceptual route of a public, off-street bicycle and pedestrian multiuse path known as the Green Loop; it’s envisioned to connect the North Park Blocks to the Broadway Bridge.

In 2022, the city of Portland committed to an intergovernmental agreement between Prosper Portland, Portland Parks & Recreation, and the Portland Bureau of Transportation to create the Broadway Corridor and Green Loop designs as well as design and construct the park between Glisan and Hoyt streets, according to the project’s website.

Landscape architect PLACE is leading the development. The team also includes landscape architect Hood Design Studio of Oakland, California; architect ZGF Architects; civil engineer Vega Civil Engineering; and structural engineer KPFF.

Site 1 is owned by Portland Parks & Recreation, which currently leases it to Willamette University’s Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) for parking and display of Lee Kelly’s Memory 99 sculpture. The site is intended to support the future Green Loop development with planned half-street improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians on Park Avenue, Portland Parks & Recreation spokesman Mark Ross stated in an email.

Site 2 is part of the former U.S. Postal Service property. It will support future Broadway Corridor and Green Loop development. Prosper Portland, the property’s current owner, will transfer ownership to Portland Parks & Recreation upon completion of phase 2 demolition, which includes the remaining parking garage, Ross stated. This will likely be around 2030.

In accordance with the Broadway Corridor master plan, Portland Parks & Recreation will develop a 30 percent completeness design and engineering package for the park parcel, which includes the two-block section of the Green Loop and connections within the Broadway Corridor development, Ross stated.

Specific design elements of the new park blocks will be determined during the planning and community engagement process but may include amenities such as gathering and picnic spaces, flexible recreational spaces and courts, skate spots, and overhead shade structures. It is anticipated that the Green Loop will connect to a future bridge abutment within the northernmost park blocks, the project’s website states.

The project’s Technical Advisory Committee, which includes Portland Parks & Recreation operations and maintenance staff, and partners at Prosper Portland and the PNCA, began meeting in September, Ross stated. The committee will meet throughout the project to discuss operations, maintenance and programming to support Portland Parks & Recreation and PNCA programs.

Community engagement, planning and design of site 1 will take place this year. A Project Advisory Committee of 15 community members, students and business members in Old Town or the Pearl District will provide recommendations that support the community’s needs. The committee will begin meeting this month.

The project team will also host at least three community meetings – beginning in February – to allow the public to comment on the development of both sites.

The total project budgets are $8 million for site 1 and approximately $11.4 million (that estimate will be reassessed as the project advances) for site 2. Funding was allocated in 2020 from parks system development charges for downtown.

Construction documents, permitting and contracting will begin in 2025. Bidding for a general contractor is expected to take place in mid to late 2025.

Construction is scheduled for 2026. Site 1 is anticipated to be open in 2027.