Willamette Falls Legacy Project update
Willamette Falls Legacy Project officials yesterday reiterated their commitment to working with all Tribes with an interest in Willamette Falls to move the public riverwalk project forward.
Read MoreWillamette Falls Legacy Project officials yesterday reiterated their commitment to working with all Tribes with an interest in Willamette Falls to move the public riverwalk project forward.
Read MoreAfter more than a year of collaboration between the Willamette Falls Legacy Project and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the vision for the first phase of the Willamette Falls riverwalk is coming together.
Read MoreAmidst the COVID-19 pandemic, progress continues to be made on planning for the future riverwalk at Willamette Falls.
Read MoreWillamette Falls Legacy Project officials met April 8 to discuss the future of the riverwalk at Willamette Falls. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde presented an alternative riverfront concept they’ve developed for the first phase of the riverwalk. The alternate design seeks to support the Willamette Falls Legacy Project’s four core values, the riverwalk conceptual design, and meets Grand Ronde’s site cleanup and development goals.
Read MoreWillamette Falls Legacy Project Partners today gave the green light to staff to continue refining the scope of the first phase of a public riverwalk to fit within the funding that’s available. The project team asked for direction after receiving cost estimates showing that jump-starting the riverwalk will be more expensive than an initial projection from architects.
Read MoreWe are excited about carrying out the community’s vision for a public riverwalk along Willamette Falls – a commitment that remains in place, even if the landowner changes. Construction is slated to begin in spring 2020.
Read MoreLate last year, the Willamette Falls Legacy Project team issued a request for proposals to transform a conceptual design for the first phase of the Willamette Falls riverwalk into detailed permitting and construction drawings, as well as manage construction. Metro, on behalf of the Willamette Falls Legacy Project, is pleased to announce Otak has been
Read MoreSometime next year we hope to be breaking ground on the first phase of Oregon City’s future riverwalk; one that will weave through the former Blue Heron paper mill at the edge of the Willamette River and provide a prominent view of Willamette Falls. Read on to find out what’s been going on behind-the-scenes.
Read MoreUPDATE: RFP 3590, Design and Planning Services, Willamette Falls Project has been posted on ORPIN.
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A search is about to begin for the team to advance the riverwalk at Willamette Falls in downtown Oregon City – envisioned as the catalyst for a signature Oregon destination along the banks of the Willamette River. Metro, one of four public partners of the Willamette Falls Legacy Project, will be issuing a request for proposals this fall to transform a conceptual design for the first phase of the Willamette Falls riverwalk into detailed permitting and construction drawings.
The public riverwalk at Willamette Falls is drawing one step closer to reality. After a delay causing the riverwalk project to fall behind schedule, Willamette Falls Legacy Project staff received Falls Legacy LLC’s signatures on multiple permit applications in March. This month, Clackamas County and Oregon City also received payments from Falls Legacy LLC for back taxes and utilities.
Read MoreAndrew Mason has been selected as the first full-time executive director for Rediscover the Falls (RTF), the nonprofit organization created in 2015 to raise resources and advocate for the revitalization of the former Blue Heron paper mill site in Oregon City and the riverwalk experience.
Read MoreThe Willamette Falls Riverwalk master plan provides the long-term vision that will guide development and public access at the former Blue Heron paper mill site in downtown Oregon City.
Read MoreOver the summer, the Willamette Falls Legacy Project had an opportunity to share the riverwalk project with OPB’s Oregon Field Guide.
Read MoreIn early 2015, the Willamette Falls Legacy Project Partners (Oregon City, Clackamas County, Metro and the State of Oregon) initiated a public master planning process for the Willamette Falls riverwalk. The final master plan aims to provide a long-term vision that will guide future development and public use of the riverwalk. Throughout the planning process,
Read MoreClackamas County Fire District #1 will be conducting a firefighter training exercise at the former Blue Heron paper mill on August 29-31 and September 5-7. They will not be setting any structures on fire. The exercise will use smoke barrels to simulate the smoke that is present during a real structure fire.
Read MoreThe Willamette Falls Legacy Project was extremely honored to have members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation join us June 3 when we unveiled the design concept for a future riverwalk. The project has diligently been reaching out to and coordinating with these tribes since 2013,
Read MoreAfter years of planning and countless rounds of community input, the design for a public riverwalk alongside the Willamette River leading to Willamette Falls in Oregon City is complete. Cut off from public access for over a century, Willamette Falls is the second largest waterfall by volume in North America. The riverwalk design will reveal a
Read MoreAnnounced today, final riverwalk concept designs will be available for public viewing this Saturday, June 3rd, at the Willamette Falls Riverwalk Design Celebration event. The inspiration of a design team of internationally-renowned architecture firms Snøhetta, Mayer/Reed and DIALOG, the riverwalk will feature promenades along the river and pathways lofting through the former industrial site on the
Read MoreThe next Partners Group meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Metro Regional Center, Council Chamber.
Read MoreA vital component of the Willamette Falls Legacy Project is the restoration of native habitat at the project site, taking an approach based in science. Our project isn’t the first to prioritize habitat restoration . . .
Read MoreRestoring habitat at the Willamette Falls Legacy Project site provides an exceptional opportunity to conserve sensitive habitats and species while connecting people with regional and local conservation priorities.
Read MoreThank you to all who took the time to participate in our last community survey before the Willamette Falls riverwalk design is unveiled in June!
Read MoreThe Willamette Falls Legacy Project is working on a transportation plan to go along with riverwalk design and construction. The project team plans to incorporate best practices and take concrete steps to identify opportunities and solutions with community input and support.
Read MoreAs one of our four core values, historic and cultural interpretation has been at the heart of project planning from the beginning and will be incorporated into each phase of riverwalk development.
Read MoreThere are many examples of beautiful and compelling riverfront redevelopments that include collaborative public/private partnerships, unique features and innovative ways to incorporate the sites’ vibrant histories. Many of these projects have similarities to ours.
Read MoreResults from the riverwalk community event – learn about design options for the north riverfront on the Willamette Falls Legacy Project site.
Read MoreResults from the riverwalk community event – learn about design options for the pipe chase on the Willamette Falls Legacy Project site.
Read MoreResults from the riverwalk community event – learn about design options for the clarifier on the Willamette Falls Legacy Project site.
Read MoreWatch the full presentation given by Michelle Delk of riverwalk design partner Snøhetta at the design alternatives community event.
Read MorePlaying now in theaters across the Portland metro area, our updated video introducing the Willamette Falls Legacy Project!
Read MoreDue to overwhelming interest in the Pints from the Past community event featuring the Willamette Falls Legacy Project’s cultural landscape report, an encore will be held on January 8, 2017 at Lake Theater in Lake Oswego. All are welcome and admission is free!
Read MoreBrian Moore has joined the Willamette Falls Legacy Project as Project Manager.
Read MoreHundreds of people from across the region came to the riverwalk design alternatives event held in Oregon City. Share your opinion through our online design survey – we want to hear what you think!
Read MoreThank you to all who came to our riverwalk design event! The design process is ongoing and we are seeking community input – take our online survey today!
Read MoreGet ready – riverwalk design concepts are coming! Leading up to that, we are highlighting some key site elements that you will see in the design concepts, including the Pipe Tunnel, the North Riverbank, the Clarifier, the Service Yard, and the Hawley Powerhouse Foundation.
Read MoreThe next Willamette Falls Legacy Project Partners Group meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 16, from 12:30-2:00 p.m. at the Oregon City Library. Meetings are open to the public.
Read MoreOur design team is investigating ways to reuse, enhance, or re-purpose structures and elements from the old mill and PGE dam; along with opportunities that come from removal. Today, we focus on the Hawley Powerhouse Foundation, a structure that once held turbines to generate power from the falls.
Read MoreThe most recent Pints from the Past lecture featured our cultural landscape report, presented by Laurie Mathews, an award-winning historian. Watch the video to learn more!
Read MoreGet ready – riverwalk design concepts are coming this November! Leading up to that, we are highlighting some key site elements that you will see in the design concepts. This week, we focus on the Clarifier, a large concrete tank that was used to treat effluent from the paper-making process.
Read MoreGet ready – riverwalk design concepts are coming this November! Leading up to that, we are highlighting some key site elements that you will see in the design concepts, including the Pipe Tunnel, the North Riverbank, the Clarifier, the Service Yard, and the Hawley Powerhouse Foundation.
Read MoreAn enthusiastic capacity crowd gathered at the Midway Historic Public House to hear from Laurie Mathews, who shared vignettes from her work to create a cultural landscape report for the Willamette Falls Legacy Project.
Read MoreFree event admission will be offered as space allows. The lecture is also being recorded and will be available on our website 1-2 weeks from the event. Due to overwhelming demand, an encore is being planned – details to come!
Read MoreOur design team is investigating ways to reuse, enhance, or re-purpose structures and elements from the old mill and PGE dam. One of them is the Pipe Tunnel, a hollow concrete tunnel structure on the edge of the site, right along the banks of the Willamette.
Read MoreStakeholder spotlight: Downtown Oregon City Association, a nonprofit working to revitalize downtown Oregon City. DOCA is responsible for some of Oregon City’s most popular and high-profile community events, including the annual First City Celebration in July.
Read MoreCarol Mayer-Reed shares her thoughts about waterfalls, past projects, design for public spaces – and what excites her most about the riverwalk project.
Read MoreThe latest of the popular series Pints from the Past will feature Laurie Mathews from MIG, who will share her work to create a cultural landscape report for the Willamette Falls Legacy Project.
Read MoreMichelle Delk of Snøhetta shares her thoughts about waterfalls, past projects, design for public spaces – and what excites her most about the riverwalk project.
Read MoreAt its public meeting in Oregon City on September 19, the Willamette Falls Legacy Project partners group decided unanimously to move forward on its public riverwalk project as planned, without further consideration of a proposal to integrate a whitewater park into the project.
Read MoreThe riverwalk design team conducted an existing conditions investigation of the old Blue Heron mill site and PGE dam and documented their work in a report that describes the various areas and structures on the site. The report provides initial thoughts on the opportunities that each piece presents for the riverwalk experience.
Read MoreA plan to transform former industrial land in downtown Oregon City into one of Oregon’s iconic destinations has received a major national award.
Read MoreAfter months of careful deliberation, including numerous meetings and discussions with project partners, riverwalk stakeholders, whitewater park supporters and community members, project staff has made its recommendation on the proposal to the Willamette Falls Legacy Partners Group, which is responsible for making major project decisions.
Read MoreHundreds of people visited the Willamette Falls Legacy Project booth at downtown Oregon City’s First City Celebration on July 23. Project staff, designers and volunteers from the friends group were on hand to talk with visitors, answer questions and seek community input on seasonal activities.
Read MoreThank you to all who came to see us at the First City Celebration! Staff, designers and volunteers truly enjoyed meeting with people who stopped by to ask questions, create artwork for our lamprey art wall, show their support — and give us their input for riverwalk activities during each of the four seasons.
Read MoreWillamette Falls Legacy Project will be at the First City Celebration on Saturday, July 23! Come see us between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. at 8th and Main in downtown Oregon City.
Read MoreThanks to all who attended the Partners Group meeting on July 11th. Following the July 11 meeting of the Willamette Falls Legacy Project Partners Group, project partners are accepting written public testimony on a proposal that a whitewater park be included in riverwalk design.
Read MoreAre you curious about what others are hoping to see and do at the riverwalk? We have something to share!
Read MoreOn Saturday, May 21, staff and volunteers welcomed dozens of people from across the Portland metro region who were quick enough to claim a spot in one of the public site tours.
Read MoreFor more than 150 years, Willamette Falls has roared behind industrial buildings in downtown Oregon City, out of sight from most Oregonians. As we work to permanently build public access to Willamette Falls, we also want to give you a glimpse of the future through our site tours.
Read MoreThe Willamette Falls riverwalk open house on March 30 was a smashing success! More than 800 people from across the region made it to the open house at the Abernethy Center in Oregon City, exceeding even the most optimistic expectations for attendance.
Read MoreOver 400 people attended our event last night to meet the Riverwalk designers! We saw inspiring presentations and listened to a thought-provoking discussion from our Riverwalk team from Portland’s Mayer/Reed Landscape Architecture, Oslo/New York-based Snøhetta, and Vancouver, BC’s DIALOG.
Read MoreJoin us for the kickoff event of the Riverwalk design process! Show your love for the project, meet the designers, mingle with other community champions and learn more about how you can get involved in the upcoming process that will transform the most amazing place we don’t visit into a new Oregon landmark. Presented
Read MoreWe are proud to announce that the Oregon Legislature has supported a $7.5 million investment in the Willamette Falls Legacy Project.The Legislature invested lottery-backed bond money in the Willamette Falls Riverwalk, which would bring visitors from downtown Oregon City to the edge of one of North America’s largest waterfalls. “I want to thank the many
Read MoreOn May 29, Governor Kate Brown announced the selection of the schematic design team for the Willamette Falls Riverwalk. The team of Mayer/Reed, Snøhetta and DIALOG will work collaboratively to create a design for the Riverwalk that helps transform the vision for Willamette Falls into reality, reconnecting people to the falls, and creating a destination
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