Portlanders are officially calling in help from across the pond. Portland Parks & Recreation has hired London-based Malcolm Reading Consultants to run an international design competition to rethink the Bowl at Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The grassy sweep just south of the Hawthorne Bridge is on track for a major glow-up, with new river access, performance space and everyday hangout spots all on the table. City leaders describe the contest as the next key step in a long-running effort to stitch downtown Portland more closely to the Willamette River.
Who Was Hired
Portland Parks & Recreation brought in Malcolm Reading Consultants to manage an open selection process for the redesign. The firm, known for organizing international competitions for museums, civic projects and waterfronts, will handle outreach, shortlist development and procurement. The announcement also named Portland-based social impact consultancy Interplay to lead community engagement throughout the competition.
Local Coverage
The move was confirmed locally by KPTV, which reported that the city selected the UK firm to manage the competition. The Portland Business Journal also covered the hire, describing it as the next step toward redeveloping the Bowl area. Local reporting notes that the process is expected to draw national and international design teams pitching bold visions for the downtown waterfront.
Why It Matters
The project is supported in part by a $750,000 planning grant from Metro and will focus on the Bowl, the slice of parkland between RiverPlace and the Marina just south of the Hawthorne Bridge, according to the city. Portland Parks & Recreation lists improved river access, flexible everyday park uses and shoreline restoration as core goals for the competition, per Portland Parks & Recreation. Metro's grant announcement frames the work as a two-year push to produce implementable designs that support recreation, events and healthier river ecology.
Design Ideas on the Table
Early studies have floated a mix of concepts, from terraced seating and an outdoor stage to market kiosks and a reshaped shoreline with a sandy edge for casual river access. Those ideas were collected in a city-funded study and summarized by Portland Monthly, which pointed out that the Bowl often sits quiet except during big festivals. Advocates argue that smaller, everyday amenities could turn the waterfront into a regular destination instead of a spot that only comes alive for seasonal crowds.
Timeline and Process
According to the city's project page, the competition is expected to open with a public call for teams in summer 2026, with semifinalists selected later in the year and a finalist chosen for design development in 2027. Semifinalists will be asked to refine their proposals ahead of a final report to City Council in winter 2027. Officials emphasize that there is not yet a construction schedule or funding package. Selection criteria will focus on ecological sensitivity, equitable access and a proven track record delivering complex civic projects.
Community Engagement
The city has already convened a Project Advisory Committee and held initial outreach tied to recruiting competition applicants, according to local coverage of the bureau's public process. Community organizations and river-access advocates are expected to have a prominent role in shaping the competition brief and review criteria as the work moves ahead. "We are delighted to manage this competition for Portland Parks & Recreation," the competition announcement states, with the firm underscoring that community input will be woven into each stage of the selection.
Officials are urging Portlanders and design teams to watch for the competition's formal launch this summer. Public engagement events and advisory meetings will follow as semifinalists sharpen their ideas. If the redesign moves forward, supporters say the new Bowl could reshape how downtown residents and visitors use the riverfront for years to come.
