Portland Sunday Parkways Presented by Kaiser Permanente will return to North Portland on Sunday, August 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a brand-new 6.7-mile event route connecting Downtown St. Johns, McCoy Park, Columbia Park, and McKenna Park.
This free community event, led by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and funded by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), invites people of all ages to walk, bike, roll, and play on car-free streets while exploring North Portland neighborhoods, parks, and local businesses. The new route also celebrates the completion of recent walking and biking upgrades along N. Willamette Boulevard and improvements from the North Portland In Motion plan, giving participants the opportunity to experience these investments in a car-free environment.
As part of this year's event, Portland Sunday Parkways is partnering with the St. Johns Boosters to celebrate Downtown St. Johns as a destination for shopping, dining, and community connection. Along this portion of the route, local brick-and-mortar businesses will participate in the Sunday Parkways marketplace through complimentary booth spaces, creating a unique opportunity to connect directly with thousands of event attendees while showcasing their products, services, and activities.
New this year, in connection with Kaiser Permanente's role as the official medical provider for the Portland Thorns and Portland Fire, families can stop by the MOVE booth in McKenna Park for Portland Fire–inspired basketball activities and the PLAY booth in McCoy Park for Portland Thorns experiences, including bench soccer. Visitors can also enjoy healthy treats at the NOURISH booth and contribute to a community mural at the CONNECT booth designed to spark conversation and help reduce stigma around mental health.
"At Kaiser Permanente, we know that being active and connecting with one another are powerful ways to support both physical and mental well-being," said Wendy Watson, president of Kaiser Permanente Northwest. "Sunday Parkways brings communities together in a way that's joyful, active and welcoming for all ages. We're proud to support an event that encourages people-powered transportation, celebrates local neighborhoods and businesses, and inspires people to get outside and exercise. This year, we're especially excited to build on that energy through our new partnership as the official medical provider of the Portland Thorns and Portland Fire, by offering playful activities that promote movement, and interactive experiences that help families connect with the teams in fun, memorable ways."
Source: Portland Bureau of Transportation