Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), Portland, Ore., has launched its two-stage open design competition for Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
The project focuses on one of Portland’s most iconic public spaces and is expected to reaffirm Portland’s identity as a river city. One of the most consequential civic projects for Portland this decade, it will activate the river’s edge and foster a “toes in the water” human connection as well as create new and inspiring views to the Park and the Willamette River. Improved physical connections to neighboring Downtown are expected along with advancing the Willamette’s ecological recovery and biodiversity.
The Park will be re-envisioned as a premier destination that welcomes residents, families, workers and visitors, a place that celebrates the city’s diverse cultural and Indigenous heritage. New infrastructure will better support major events, civic celebrations and everyday memory making – boosting the local economy and reenergizing the Central City core.
The design competition, which has been keenly anticipated by the local community and potential competitors, is open to all local, regional, national, and international firms. No design work is required at the first stage; at the second stage, shortlisted teams will be given a further briefing and asked to create concept designs for the whole 30-acre Park with a focus on the Bowl area.
Full details of the competition, which is run by global architect search and selection specialists, Malcolm Reading Consultants, are available on the dedicated competition website at competitions.malcolmreading.com/portlandwaterfront.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said:
‘Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park has helped define Portland for more than 50 years. This competition asks what Portland’s waterfront should look like for the next 50 years.
‘Portlanders have shared their hopes for a waterfront that draws people to the river, strengthens Downtown, and serves the city every day. We are inviting design teams from around the world to build on those ideas and bring their own perspective to this challenge.’
Art Pearce, Interim Director, Portland Parks & Recreation said:
‘The Portland Waterfront Park Design Competition will set the vision for this cherished park that releases its potential in a way that expresses Portland’s identity and gives Portlanders a reason to spend time there.
‘Renewing the Park is central to revitalizing Downtown as a neighborhood. We’re thrilled to issue this call to action to ambitious and talented teams to enact our next great chapter.’
Malcolm Reading, Competition Director, Malcolm Reading Consultants, said:
‘Portland is gifted with a generous and distinguished public realm, a rich network of streets and public spaces, many ahead of their time, that provide green areas and urban rooms.
‘This is a career-defining opportunity for the right team and an inspirational project to work on. In transforming the experiential feel of the Park and reorientating the city to the river, the winning team can refresh Portlanders’ everyday lives with beauty, nature and wellbeing.’
To achieve PP&R’s ambitions for a design that reflects Portland’s values and priorities, Portland-based social impact consultancy Interplay has been leading the competition’s community engagement strategy, including focus groups, public events and feedback sessions. All of which has fed into the competition program and project vision.
Project Background
Stretching along the west bank of the Willamette River, Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park serves as Downtown Portland’s front yard.
The Park is a vital part of Portland’s urban landscape, contributing to the city’s livability, culture and environment, hosting major events and civic celebrations and welcoming visitors from around the world.
As Portland has faced complex economic, political, social and environmental challenges in recent decades, the Park has languished accordingly. Currently, it does not live up to its full potential – nor to resident, employee, or visitor expectations. Generally considered visually underwhelming and unwelcoming, the Park is also mostly detached visually and physically from the river. While it serves as a popular walking and cycling corridor, it lacks the amenities, accessibility, infrastructure and river connections needed to encourage people to stay and enjoy the waterfront beyond major events.
This project, overseen by the client – Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and in combination with multi-bureau coordinated efforts, is one of the Mayor’s priorities for downtown revitalization.
The estimated capital project budget for the redevelopment of the Bowl alone is at circa US $40 million. The design competition is funded by a Metro 2040 Grant that was awarded in 2025. The intention is to raise further funding for design development of the Park and phased construction through a combination of private and public funding.
Following extensive community engagement with key stakeholders, this project will create a unique destination that is distinctly Portland – reflecting the city’s culture and landscape. It will enhance beloved spaces that work well, such as the Japanese American Memorial and mature cherry trees and Salmon Street Springs Fountain, while encouraging transformation of underutilized spaces to better serve Portlanders.
PP&R formed a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) to help inform project decisions, and further details are available at: portland.gov/parks/waterfront.
Situated in the densest neighborhood in the region and state, the redeveloped Park is expected to play a primary role in Downtown Portland’s future resurgence. As a strengthened civic anchor, it is poised to provide a significant economic boost to housing, local businesses, and tourism. The successful design should be a model for local urban planning, contributing to Portland’s public realm legacy.
Competition Format
The official language of the competition is US English. The competition’s first stage is open until 16:00 PDT (UTC-7) on Thursday, July 30.
No design proposals are asked for at the first stage (Request for Qualifications) – rather designers will need to study the Search Statement (available as part of the RFQ documentation) and submit their approach to the project, experience and relevant design skills and propose a design team, including an Architect/Landscape Architect registered in the State of Oregon.
Firms will need to follow instructions and submit via the City of Portland’s online portal.
At the second stage (Request for Proposals) three teams will be shortlisted, and these will receive a competition fee of US $50,000 for their design work when the competition concludes with the selection of the winner.
The competition will feature a public exhibition in early 2027 of the concepts created by the shortlisted firms. PP&R looks forward to inviting the community to provide comment at that time.
Full details of the competition Jury – composed of subject matter experts and community and client representatives who will interview the shortlisted teams and select a winner – will be announced in early Fall.
The deadline for first stage responses is: 16:00 PDT (UTC-7) on Thursday, July 30.
The competition’s second stage is anticipated to start in mid-September; the winner announcement is expected in Spring 2027.
