1 photo to go: Time for a glow up
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Two car-free downtown blocks are getting a colorful makeover.
The latest: Pride Plaza, on Southwest Harvey Milk Street between 12th and 13th avenues, was recently repaved and will soon feature rainbow-inspired asphalt art and "playful" permanent seating, according to the transportation bureau.
- The block sits in what was once the heart of Portland's gay community, where bars and clubs anchored queer life for decades.
- PBOT says the upgrades will give that history a more permanent presence and connect the plaza symbolically to another LGBTQ+ landmark nearby.
🌟 The Darcelle XV Promenade, along Southwest Ninth Avenue, is also undergoing an upgrade. The street will be dotted with diamond and rose motifs, reflective overhead art and lighting inspired by the drag legend's jewelry.
Follow the money: The two projects cost a combined $1.8 million, funded by grants and transportation system development charges.
🔜 What's next: The two spaces will bookend a stretch of Harvey Milk Street with public art and gathering places, with most work expected to wrap by the end of September.