Gateway Green Update

Phase 2 construction continued at Gateway Green. Gateway Green is a 25 acre-park located in East Portland, at the confluence of 2 major freeways. It has been home to The Dirt Lab, Portland’s first mountain bike park which was built in partnership by Northwest Trail Alliance, Friends of Gateway Green with Portland Parks & Recreation, Metro and others. 

Now, the entire park is entering the long planned a Phase 2 upgrade which will include:

photo by Ross Swanson
  • Improved trails and paths, including a new gravity-oriented mountain bike trail
  • Habitat enhancements paid for by a $1 million Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grant
  • Public gathering spaces and play area
  • Amenities including drinking fountains and a Portland Loo! 

A major feature is the Spine, which will connect the North and South ends of the park and making the site fully accessible, ADA compliant, and building out the infrastructure of the future park. This part of the construction has brought up a number of questions. Where will the mountain bike trails go? Where is the Gravity Track? To which Linda Robinson from Friends of Gateway Green answered:

photo by Ross Swanson

“They had to move part of the existing trail on the south hill in order to realign the Spine. The trail will be rebuilt, and a second, gravity oriented  trail will be added on the hill

PP&R is committed to enhancing and improving the riding experience when these improvements are completed. Changes will be made to the existing Toe Line Trail, the existing advanced jump line will be re-built, the existing pumptrack will be re-located to make room for a future asphalt pumptrack, and existing skills area will be refreshed with funds provided to NWTA through the Travel Oregon Forever Fund. This work will begin this summer and continue over the next several months. 

photo by Ross Swanson

There may be opportunities for NWTA members to assist with some of these improvements, so please keep an eye out for updates on the NWTA website and in our newsletter.

Phase Three, scheduled for 2021 and beyond, will bring more improvements.  An additional park entrance will be added on the south hill along with a pedestrian bridge that will connect directly to the Gateway Transit Center. Currently, the park’s re-opening is scheduled for November of 2020. 

Partners include Portland Parks & Recreation, Friends of Gateway Green, Metro, Northwest Trail Alliance, Travel Oregon & many others.

Consultants and Contractors: Raimore Construction (General Contractor), PBS Engineering and Environmental Inc., 3J Consulting, Inc., Morgan Holen & Associates, Geotechnics, C2 Recreation Consulting, & Greenworks, PC. 

Questions about the project? Email [email protected]