Sandy River to Springwater Multimodal Corridor Feasibility Study
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Date
2014
Authors
Xian Chen, Leona
Ribe, Rob
Eischeid, Mark
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
The City of Gresham, Metro, Multnomah County and the City of Troutdale
collaborated with the U.O. Sustainable Cities Initiative in executing a trail
planning and feasibility study reported here. Students of landscape architecture
conducted the study. It investigated the problem of “closing Portland’s 40-
mile Loop” in its biggest gap along its eastern edge through Gresham and
Troutdale. The “40-mile loop” was originally proposed by John Charles Olmstead
in 1903. It intended to link Portland’s open spaces and greenways to create a
public accessible trail system. That loop has grown to a much more extensive
contemporary trail system and the eastern gap is arguably the most challenging
part of today’s 40-mile Loop system to complete. Unlike most of the rest of the
system, there is no existing right-of-way or river or other landscape corridor to
follow. A new trail here must traverse the suburban landscape though parks,
along roads, along unused rights-of-way, near creeks, or along the edge of
private properties. This report summarizes the planning and urban design
processes the students undertook, and the proposed solutions for creating a
path from the Sandy River waterfront in Troutdale to the Springwater Trail though
southeast Gresham.The class first did regional studies of many potential trail links and their good
and bad impacts as candidates to assemble into alternative trail alignments.
Proposed better alternative trail alignments were then mapped. The class then
developed more detailed designs for segments of alignments selected by city
and Metro planners.
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The project began with field studies of many existing trails in the Portland region
and a combination of field and GIS analysis of the study areas. During the field
trips that visited trails, students recorded trails’ layout and construction, site
furnishings, trail experience, access, and context.
Description
113 pages ; illustrations
Keywords
Trails, Greenways, Land use planning