Portland’s Forest Park has many entry points, but no main entrance. Portland Parks & Recreation wants to change that and create a distinctive entrance with amenities – if it can ultimately cover the $15 million price tag.

Parks & Recreation officials recently issued a request for proposals for the entryway, according to planning and design manager Lauren McGuire.

“This will be an architecturally-led project with a really strong landscape architecture firm partner, and there’s also a cost consultant element to it,” she said.

The parks department is working on three campaigns in the park, including habitat restoration and invasive species removal in addition to repair of signage, trails, bridges and culverts.

But the $15 million would go only toward a new entrance, which would include parking for 20 motor vehicles and bikes, restrooms, a walkway that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, maintenance facilities and eventually an overlook and possibly even an amphitheater.

The build-out would be a long-term effort, under the direction of project manager Britta Herwig. Public outreach will begin after a design team is picked, McGuire said. The deadline to respond to the RFP is April 1. Interested parties can contact Herwig at 503-823-5476 or britta.herwig@portlandoregon.gov.

The new entry will be located south of U.S. Route 30 where it converges with St. Helens Road and Kittredge Street, McGuire said.

“We are ultimately looking for a designer to design an iconic architectural gateway to improve access and circulation, and provide a major entry into the park which, right now, we don’t have,” she said.

The post ‘Iconic’ entrance sought for Portland’s Forest Park appeared first on Daily Journal of Commerce.