Riverwalk

Stay current on Willamette Falls

Check here for the latest updates on project design and construction, recaps of public meetings, and the latest news and events.

Willamette Falls Legacy Project update

Thu 9 Apr 20

Willamette 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.

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Willamette Falls Legacy Project update

Wed 31 Jul 19

Willamette 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.

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Grand Ronde planning to purchase Blue Heron site

Fri 14 Jun 19

We 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.

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Onward!

Tue 9 Apr 19

Late 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

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What is going on with that project, anyway?

Fri 8 Feb 19

Sometime 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.

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Metro seeking team to prepare for Willamette Falls riverwalk construction

Fri 14 Sep 18

UPDATE: 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.

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Willamette Falls Legacy Project update

Wed 23 May 18

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.

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A new Executive Director leads Rediscover the Falls

Thu 5 Apr 18

Andrew 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.

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WFLP site interpretive design

Mon 6 Mar 17

As 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.

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Revitalizing Urban Waterfronts

Tue 21 Feb 17

There 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.

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Exploring the site: the service yard

Tue 15 Nov 16

Get 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.

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Partners Group Meeting on November 16

Mon 14 Nov 16

The 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.

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Exploring the site: the Hawley Powerhouse Foundation

Tue 8 Nov 16

Our 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.

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Exploring the site: the Clarifier

Tue 25 Oct 16

Get 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.

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Exploring the site: the North Riverbank

Wed 19 Oct 16

Get 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.

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Exploring the site: the Pipe Tunnel

Mon 10 Oct 16

Our 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.

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Stakeholder Spotlight: Downtown Oregon City Association

Tue 4 Oct 16

Stakeholder 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.

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Partners Group decision on whitewater park proposal

Tue 20 Sep 16

At 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.

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Riverwalk Opportunities Report Now Available

Wed 14 Sep 16

The 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.

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Project staff offer recommendation on whitewater park proposal

Fri 26 Aug 16

After 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.

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Partners Group Meeting Recap

Thu 14 Jul 16

Thanks 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.

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Design team announced for schematic design of the Riverwalk

Thu 4 Jun 15

On 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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