A land transfer between the state and city is officially in motion, putting the long-awaited Portland skatepark closer than ever to actualization.  by Taylor Griggs Portland is closer than ever to breaking ground on the long-envisi oned “crown jewel” skatepark on the west side of the Steel Bridge in Old Town.  The Steel Bridge Skatepark has been in the works for nearly two decades, with progress waxing and waning throughout that time. But the project has seen significant momentum in the last several years, with skatepark proponents building community hype and securing $15 million in dedicated funds.  As planned, the park would be built at the intersection of Northwest Naito Parkway, Everett Street, and 1st Avenue, in the shadow of Steel Bridge on-ramps. The park’s preliminary renderings depict a concrete bowl for vertical drop-ins alongside smaller tracks and obstacles for skateboarders and rollerskaters.  Still, progress on the skatepark was in a state of limbo until the city fully acquired the park site, which is currently co-owned by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The Portland City Council recently took action to put that land swap in motion, clearing the way for skatepark planning and construction to begin in earnest. Portland City Council voted unanimously on March 19 to approve transferring ownership of the Steel Bridge Skatepark site to PBOT. The site is a remnant of the former Harbor Freeway, which was demolished and replaced with Tom McCall Waterfront Park. ODOT maintained 40 percent undivided interest in the land, which will now be fully transferred to PBOT in exchange for full ownership of another shared lot located at I-405 and SW Naito Parkway.  “When ODOT and PBOT can make a land swap, anything can happen,” Councilor Dan Ryan said at the March 5 Council meeting, when the resolution was introduced. While the topic at hand was ostensibly the bureaucratic land swap, the conversation among councilors inevitably shifted to a broader discussion about the skatepark. Councilors and many members of the public have expressed a particular interest in how the Steel Bridge Skatepark will reinvigorate a neglected and underused part of downtown Portland, with impacts that could spread far beyond the park site.  A skateboarder outside Portland City Hall during a rally in support of the Steel Bridge Skatepark. Taylor griggs   Ryan, formerly the commissioner in charge of the Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) bureau, championed the effort to dedicate $15 million in parks bureau system development charges (SDCs) to the project. He recognized the importance of the skatepark not only as a place for would-be Tony Hawks to practice their kickflips, but also as a much-needed investment in Old Town and downtown Portland generally.  “I think [the skatepark] is something that will really lift Portland, once again, as that magical place where we take life and joy to a different level,” Ryan said.  Before the Council’s vote on Wednesday, the skatepark was a main subject of discussion during a March 11 Arts and Economy Committee meeting, which was focused on downtown space activation.  “What we’re aiming to build is a world class skating facility,” Ryan Hashagen, director of the Steel Bridge Skatepark Coalition, told the committee. “We’re looking forward to being the rec room of Portland, a space of gathering and for future generations to be able to connect and conserve.”  Steel Bridge Skatepark advocates have made it clear they want to prioritize inclusivity at the site, allowing people of all abilities to experience the joy and benefits of skating. The park will also have a unique plaza space for spectators to watch the action in the competition bowl. Other anticipated components of the park include a covered space for beginners and youth, as well as a traffic playground for kids (a la the bike-centered playgrounds in Copenhagen).  Hashagen compared the plans for the Steel Bridge Skatepark to the Burnside Skatepark, well-known among skaters worldwide for its DIY history. According to Hashagen, Burnside’s DIY ethos made for an “iconic” skatepark, but also an insular one. The Steel Bridge Skatepark, on the other hand, will be “built with inclusivity at the forefront.”  Stevie Moe is the operations director at skateboard advocacy group Push Movement, which promotes prevention and recovery through skateboarding.  “We’re always looking for safe spaces to take our programs. This park will be a great place for us to do our programming,” Moe said at the Arts and Economy Committee meeting. “It’s going to give us an ample opportunity to teach the kids how to move skateboarding forward, and how to move themselves forward through positive interaction with the community.”  Kelly Bird, the global brand manager for Nike Skateboarding, said it’s meaningful to see the city take on a participating role in developing places to skate.  “I think skateboarders have always been great about taking spaces that are sometimes forgotten and revitalizing them, often without a mandate…to actually have a mandate from the city is huge,” Bird said. “The benefits of skateboarding are great for marginalized youth, creating a sense of community that isn’t always there, and a sense of determination. You learn how to [skate] with a lot of trial and error, picking yourself up again. There’s always tremendous upsides in these types of communities.”  Now that the land swap deal has been approved by City Council, PP&R will take over day-to-day control of the property from PBOT. The parks bureau says it will continue its community engagement plan and begin geotechnical and environmental site investigation work, as well as pursuing design concepts. According to Hashagen, skatepark stakeholders are hopeful construction can begin in 2028 or 2029. One underrated benefit of the Steel Bridge Skatepark? It’s illuminated which City Council members may be down to shred.  At the March 5 meeting, Councilor Mitch Green said he thinks the park will create a new reason for families to enjoy downtown Portland, and lend public safety benefits that extend past the immediate Old Town area. Green also said he may be inspired to return to his childhood skateboarding hobby.  “So, just a slam dunk here. I’m going to support it,” Green said. “I look forward to buying a skateboard, I guess, and breaking my leg.”  Councilor Jamie Dunphy—who also revealed a past history as a skateboarder—said he’s “really bullish about the future of the project,” and “looking for opportunities like this in every section of the city.” Councilors Sameer Kanal and Elana Pirtle-Guiney, meanwhile, shared a common interest in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game. But even those with no prior history with skateboarding spoke highly of the project.  “I know absolutely nothing about skateboarding, and I think this is a testament that you can be supportive of cool stuff that you know nothing about,” Councilor Eric Zimmerman said. “I think Old Town is ground zero for so many of our other issues. This is an exciting swap and an important step toward something that's innovative and that the neighborhood needs.” ...read more read less