PORTLAND, Ore. — Today is the last Portland Sunday Parkways of the year, notable because it happens to be World Car-Free Day.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) hosts Portland Sunday Parkways which is meant to highlight the networks of greenways and parks throughout the Rose City.
Part of the efforts this year is helping fund environmental programs, especially a treat for runners, bikers and families appreciating the late summer weather.
One of the Sunday Parkway participants biking Isabel Garcia spoke on the event.
“It just brings everybody outside, it’s a great day to be outdoors. Getting some exercise and also getting to connect with everybody in your community,” said Garcia.
Portland Sunday Parkways closes streets so people can roam freely. The path this Sunday was in Southwest Portland from Gabriel Park to the Multnomah Arts Center, then stopping by Multnomah Village before ending at Spring Garden Park.
“We’re doing the figure eight. So, we actually went to the village first and had brunch at the Down to Earth Cafe," said event participant Cody Stover-Walker. "Then we kind of walked down here to Spring Garden Park, then were doing the full figure eight to Gabriel Park and then who knows maybe we'll keep going.”
Curtis Roth working with PBOT guided groups along the way, "Reassuring people that there community is a safe place because they realize that they can do things outside and feel good about it.”
The event was a hilly mile and a half just for those on foot, two miles of the route were for people biking and rolling. Many vendors were set up across the route and live music kept energy high for event participants.
“These events embody Portland! And the more we do this ,the more people come out and support all these different recreational activities from the foods to the crafts," said Craig Riley, a biker. "Just kind of embody Portland culture.”
This is Portland's first ever Sunday Parkways by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund.
Created through a voter initiative in 2018, the initiative invests in community projects that have social, economic and environmental benefits.
“We can have more and more activities that are bike-focused that are non-fossil fueled focused is important," said Riley. "So the more we create a community that supports that way of life, that way of connecting to community, even your work and how you get to and from work the better.”
Portlanders KGW spoke with say they're already anticipating the return of Sunday Parkways next year.
“We need more and more of this," said Riley. "Just people to get out and be a part of them.”
