Willamette Falls public riverwalk project update: a path forward
As we find ourselves over a month into the new year already, we’re excited to update you on the most recent news about the Willamette Falls public riverwalk. After more than a year of collaboration between the Willamette Falls Legacy Project and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the vision for the first phase of the public riverwalk is coming together.
What’s involved in phase one?
The approach for this first phase will include habitat restoration and public access improvements, leading visitors along the river from McLoughlin Boulevard to a landing at the north end of a future public gathering place. The larger Willamette Falls overlook that was designed in 2020 will be built in a future phase. Connecting the public to the Falls and restoring the environment surrounding it are core to the project, so this phase will be the beginning of putting vision to reality.
At a February 4 meeting of the Willamette Falls Legacy Project, public officials approved moving ahead with the concept pending formal public riverwalk support from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. The concept, with further refinements, is estimated to cost $12.5 million to construct, with funding already secured.
“We’re making really great strides forward for something that’s going to benefit everyone at the table,” said Oregon City Commissioner Rachel Lyles Smith. “And it’s going to benefit Oregon. This is a destination site, and it makes me excited.”
Moving forward in collaboration
Since the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde purchased the former Blue Heron paper mill in summer 2019, the Willamette Falls Legacy Project—a partnership between Oregon City, Clackamas County, Metro and the State of Oregon—has worked alongside the Tribe to align plans for phasing the public riverwalk. This work has been done in a way that meets funding constraints and public commitments, while supporting Grand Ronde’s priorities for private development.
“Working collaboratively with five Tribes with connections to the Falls represented on our Board of Directors, Willamette Falls Trust looks forward to seeing presence at the riverwalk that reflects the many interests,” said Gerard Rodriguez, Director of Tribal Engagement. The five federally recognized tribes include the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
The concept for the first phase paves the way for the project to move into the next phases. Together, the funds that we are raising, Metro’s 2019 Parks and Nature bond measure, and additional commitments from other project partners will provide the funding to jump-start the design of the second phase.
In this new year, when public spaces feel all the more critical to our health and wellbeing than ever, we know realizing the vision for the public riverwalk will be a collective effort.
This step means that the Trust will now focus its efforts on developing a collaborative programming vision that celebrates the many Indigenous people and Nations at the Falls, as well as kick-starting fundraising efforts to continue public riverwalk development into Phase 2.
Rendering of the future riverwalk by MASS Design.