Hit the streets car-free this year as Portland Sunday Parkways returns with a 2025 lineup starring four events, including a much-anticipated revival in Downtown Portland. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) announced that the fun, which has been a mainstay since 2008, kicks off on May 18, hitting different neighborhoods through September 14. These community gatherings underscore the joy of walking, biking, and rolling in open spaces usually dominated by the hum of cars. In a statement by the City of Portland, we learned that Southwest Portland, Northeast Cully, East Portland, and Downtown Portland will each get their day to turn streets into vibrant community spaces.
Thanks to sponsorships from Kaiser Permanente, the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), and various other sponsors, residents can look forward to taking to the streets without the usual traffic. The downtown event is marking its first appearance in nearly ten years and is slated for a September slot. Routes for three events are already up for grabs on the Sunday Parkways website, with the downtown details still in the works. PBOT is looking for vendors, volunteers, and fresh ideas to light up the downtown celebrations.
This year's initiative prioritizes historically underserved neighborhoods to create more inclusive access to these car-free community ventures. The emphasis is on introducing new routes annually and reinforcing connections within each featured locale. The broader goal, as documented on the City of Portland website, is to nudge residents towards embracing biking and walking beyond Sunday Parkways, acquainting them with infrastructure in their neighborhoods designed for these activities.
