North Portland could get a new park: Want to have some say in how it looks?

Metro, the regional government serving the urban portions of Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties, has kicked off the planning process to create a nature park at Willamette Cove , a former industrial site on the Willamette River in North Portland.

Community members can share their insights and opinions on the future park through an online survey . The survey — in English or Spanish — is open until Friday, May 10.

Willamette Cove offers the region one of the few places the public can access the Willamette River in North Portland.

According to the Oregon Health Authority, it’s a 27-acre parcel of land on the east side of the Willamette River, just north of the railroad bridge. Since the 1930s, it has been the location of many industrial activities, including a plywood mill, a barrel-making plant and a ship repair dry-dock facility. Consequently, the land there is highly polluted and a clean-up will happen before any development at the site.

“Willamette Cove is a special place,” said Jennifer D’Avanzo, who is leading the park planning. “Community members have known this for a long time, and we’re excited to start creating a vision for what the future nature park can be.”

The future nature park will strike a balance between providing people with connections to nature and giving nature the space it needs to thrive, according to Metro planners.

The survey is designed to help Metro staff find that balance and to understand what types of amenities and features community members would like to see at the park. The park will include trails, interpretive signage and access to the river, as well as parking and restrooms.

Park planners will use input from the community to help shape a set of three initial design options. Community members then will have a chance to weigh in on those preliminary designs later this year.

Two cleanup projects at the site, one in the water and one on the land, are developing their work plans now. This preparatory work has progressed far enough that park planning can begin.

Since purchasing Willamette Cove in 1996, Metro has had a goal of building a nature park at the 27-acre property. Unfortunately, contamination from 70 years of industrial activity needs to be cleaned up first.

Metro and the Port of Portland have worked with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality since 2000 to prepare for the cleanup. Over the years, they conducted multiple studies to better understand the extent of the contamination. The partners also removed contamination from three portions of the site that needed immediate attention. In 2021, DEQ decided on a cleanup plan for Willamette Cove’s upland area.

When the cleanup is done and all of DEQ’s requirements are met, the entire site will be safe for people, plants and animals.

Bylined articles in press releases from Metro are written by Metro staff and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Metro or the Metro Council, and are reprinted by permission. Learn more .