Parkrose Community Plan
Working together on a plan for the future of Parkrose
The greater Parkrose neighborhood is a diverse part of Portland, with a high population of communities of color. There are many community assets in Parkrose, including a thriving school district and local organizations and businesses.
Some community concerns in the area include rising rents, the need for more living-wage jobs for students and their parents, unsafe conditions on Sandy Boulevard, the need for community gathering places, and a disaster-preparedness plan for marginalized communities.
These long-standing issues impact historically marginalized groups the most. With the support of the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Historic Parkrose NPI will create the Parkrose Community Plan with underserved groups to address these community concerns.
You’re Invited! — Parkrose Community Plan Open Houses
Come learn about the Parkrose Community Plan during an online open house in April. Over the past year, through a series of workshops and community working group meetings and a public open house and survey, the Parkrose community has created the Draft Parkrose Community Plan to address key issues confronting Parkrose. Attend one of two public open houses to learn what the plan proposes for actions to:
- Address affordable housing needs
- Connect youth to job opportunities
- Support home-based businesses and other small businesses
- Create new pedestrian crossings on Sandy Boulevard and safe connections to schools and other community destinations
- Provide more community gathering places and connections to nature
- Connect the community to resources to be better prepared for emergencies
The purpose of the open houses is to introduce you to the draft plan, answer questions, and hear your initial thoughts on the plan. There will also be an online survey where you can share your thoughts on the draft plan, so that we can improve the plan before it is finalized.
Spanish language interpretation will be available. Interpretation in other languages will be provided on request. To request interpretation, contact Bill.Cunningham@portlandoregon.gov at least 72 hours before the open house you will be attending.
Open House Registration
We are holding two open houses, so you can choose the open house that is most convenient for you. You only need to register for one, since they cover the same material:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Open House Documents and Related Reports
BPS has organized the Draft Parkrose Community Plan, Parkrose Community Plan Summary, and other related documents on their website. You can read these documents by clicking here.
Share your thoughts on the Draft Parkrose Community Plan by taking this survey: (will remain open through May 7)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/parkroseplan
Some Facts
The Parkrose area has historically mirrored East Portland demographics, with a population that is more diverse, has more families, and is less wealthy than the city as a whole. With major shifts citywide from a working-class to middle-class city, Parkrose is increasingly following citywide trends. Around 2015, families in the Parkrose School District started getting displaced from the area. Similarly, based on 2010 to 2019 census data, the population of communities of color fell from 43 percent to 35 percent of the area’s population, with a 36 percent drop in the numbers of children and youth in the area.
As lower-income families have been uprooted from the neighborhood, there’s also been an increase in homeowners versus renters. Parkrose home prices have increased faster over the past 10 years than the city as a whole, with the median single-family home price in the area rising 68 percent between 2010 and 2020 (compared to a 56 percent increase citywide). As housing costs are usually the highest household budget item, overall city rent increases impact working poor communities, which most impact historically marginalized communities of color.
What’s happening and how to get involved
Historic Parkrose has been working with Parkrose community members to learn about the community’s concerns and ideas for solutions, with a focus on communities of color, who have often been most impacted by changes but least involved in past plans. These community engagement activities include:
- Youth workshops
- Community workshops
- Parkrose Film Screening highlighting the art and aspirations of homeless youth
- Parkrose Community Plan open house
- Parkrose Community Plan online survey/feedback
The Parkrose Community Plan is being led by Historic Parkrose in partnership with the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, the Portland Bureau of Transportation, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Parkrose Community Plan draft existing conditions reports (Transportation, Demographics, Housing, Jobs/Businesses)
- PCP Existing Conditions info
- Parkrose Demographics Report (260.46 Kb) Summary of demographic information for the Parkrose Community Plan study area.
- Parkrose Existing Transportation Conditions (8.81 Mb)Summary of existing transportation conditions in the Parkrose Community Plan area.
- Parkrose Housing Existing Conditions Report (4.45 Mb) Summary of existing housing and related demographic information for the Parkrose Community Plan study area.
- Parkrose Workforce & Small Business Existing Conditions Report (1.24 Mb) Summary of jobs and businesses information for the Parkrose Community Plan study area.