Urban Studies and Planning Commons^™

The Landscape: Activating The Waterfront, Jeremy Young

Metroscape

This article discusses ideas from a 6-month project (Downtown Portland Waterfront Activation Strategy) completed by a team of students in PSU’s Masters in Urban and Regional Planning program.

Downtown Portland Waterfront Activation Strategy, Rachel Cotton, Janai Kessi, Eve Nilenders, Lauren Russell, Andrew Yaden, Jeremy Young

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

Despite longstanding ambitions and multiple planning efforts, Portland’s goal of embracing and enhancing the Willamette River as the heart of the central city has only been partially fulfilled. The removal of an expressway and the creation of Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park in the 1970s and the river’s recently improved environmental quality represent major successes. However, few opportunities exist for park visitors to use the river for recreation, and Portland’s downtown waterfront lacks vibrancy, largely as the result of difficult or unclear connections to the downtown business district, surrounding neighborhoods, and the eastside. Additionally, public use of the park, a …

Willamette Park Assessment And Recommendations, Julia Babcock, Bernadette Le, Maren Murphy, Amy Rossa

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The vision of the project was to prioritize park improvements that balance the long-term sustainability and viability of the park with growing user demands. As a hybrid park, Willamette Park has a unique set of challenges related to its operations and management, as it is managed for both recreation and natural areas. The final report documents the process QPG undertook to explore opportunities and constraints in Willamette Park, and provides recommendations to guide the future planning of the park.

This project was conducted under the supervision of Sumner Sharpe and Ellen Bassett.

The Sullivan's Gulch Trail Study, Michael Hoffmann, Darren Muldoon, Joseph Schaefer, Will Morgan

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

This study follows a recent engineering study by PSU students, which offers a potential trail alignment in the Sullivan’s Gulch. Metro Parks and Greenspaces asked for a product that would identify whether and how the trail would meet regional goals if constructed as an off‐street path. This report is intended to research and explain the planning issues that follow from the potential trail alignment. This report provides information to support a decision on whether to apply for funding for further planning and engineering study. It also serves as a practical resource for future action. This project was conducted under the …

City Of Tualatin Youth Development Plan, Holly Hendricks, Matt Michels, Alison Mielke, Justin Patterson, Jon Skidmore, Jason Tuck, Jason Wachs

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

This project evaluated the recent construction of a public skatepark located in Tualatin Community Park. The skatepark is unique because a group of underrepresented youth initiated the idea of constructing it and helped bring it to fruition. The city has expressed a desire to see this level of energy and commitment duplicated in other youth-oriented initiatives, but needs to have a better understanding of how the skatepark project served as a positive youth development tool. In support of young people, the Tualtin City Council recently named youth issues as a "first tier" priority.

Springwater Corridor Master Plan, Portland (Or.). Bureau Of Parks And Recreation

Portland Regional Planning History

This master plan sets the direction for development of the Springwater Corridor into the premier urban recreation and alternative transportation corridor in the State of Oregon, with an expected annual user count of over 400,000. With its connections to neighborhood, community and regional parks and open spaces, in addition to employment centers and residential neighborhoods, it will pull users from a region-wide area as well as the 150,000 people who live within a two-mile distance along the route of the Corridor.