Riverside amphitheater floated for Portland waterfront
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
One of several concepts for a waterfront amphitheater. The final design will be determined through a national contest. Image: Michael Curry Design
A permanent riverside amphitheater just south of the Hawthorne Bridge is one of the ideas being floated as the city prepares a major revamp of the downtown waterfront.
Why it matters: The area, known as the Hawthorne Bowl, has been underutilized, advocates say, and a redesigned park would serve as an entertainment and cultural landmark as the city continues to look for ways to draw visitors back to its core.
Driving the news: Last week, the city was awarded a $750,000 grant from the Metro Council to kickstart a design competition for the southern end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
What they're saying: "We want to see a world class, toes-in-the-water river-edge park," said Willie Levenson, founder of the Human Access Project, a nonprofit aiming to reconnect the city's residents with the Willamette River.
- Levenson told Axios that while Portland has some great venues, it lacks an iconic outdoor arena with the capacity to serve 4,000 to 6,000 concertgoers.
- Portland Parks and Recreation director Adena Long said in a written statement that the project is an opportunity "to create a vibrant, sustainable space that will attract visitors and foster community connection."
Zoom in: The site plays host to the occasional concert, like the Blues Fest, which sets up temporary stages for performers.
- The rest of the year, aside from the occasional sunbather, the area is mostly used by geese, who often leave the lawn dotted with their excrement.
The big picture: Over the next couple of years, the city plans to host a national design competition with certain features at the top of the priority list.
- The design should be open to everyone, including those with disabilities, and have public access for swimmers, per the city's guidelines.
- It should also feature an "outdoor entertainment stage for regional events and cultural gatherings."
Yes, but: With the city contemplating layoffs and service reductions as it works to close a significant budget gap, it's unclear where the money to revamp the park would come from.
What we're watching: Preliminary design concepts show various locations of a stage.
- Levenson likes the idea of a stage on the north end of the bowl, so that "no matter where you sit, you're going to have a vantage point with value, and you're going to have the Hawthorne bridge in the background."
- Other concepts include terraced steps leading down to the water, with a stage in the river.
What's next: Officials told Axios they are still very early in the process and have not set dates for the start of the competition or public comment, but the design phase is expected to last roughly two and a half years.