News Release: Portland Sunday Parkways returns to East Portland on June 28 with a new route

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Experience the joy of open streets at East Portland Sunday Parkways Presented by Kaiser Permanente this Sunday, June 28. Photo by PBOT.

(June 25, 2026)Portland Sunday Parkways Presented byKaiser Permanente will return toEast Portland on June 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Join thePortland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and thePortland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) in celebrating car-free streets for walking, rolling, and playing with neighbors and friends.

The East Portland 4-mile route will featureVerdell Burdine Rutherford Park as a new addition this year in collaboration with theCity of Gresham and theCentennial School District.People are encouraged to stop and enjoy vendor marketplaces, free family-friendly activities, and live entertainment at the four activation areas along the route includingVentura Park,Lincoln Park,Parklane Park, andVerdell Burdine Rutherford Park.

New this year, in connection with Kaiser Permanente's role as the official medical provider for the Portland Thorns and Portland Fire, families can stop by the MOVE booth in Lincoln Park for Portland Fire-inspired basketball activities and the PLAY booth in Ventura Park for Portland Thorns experiences, including bench soccer. Visitors can also enjoy healthy treats at the NOURISH booth and contribute to a community mural at the CONNECT booth designed to spark conversation and help reduce stigma around mental health.

"At Kaiser Permanente, we know that being active and connecting with one another are powerful ways to support both physical and mental well-being," said Wendy Watson, president of Kaiser Permanente Northwest. "Sunday Parkways brings communities together in a way that's joyful, active and welcoming for all ages.We're proud to support an event that encourages people-powered transportation, celebrates local neighborhoods and businesses, and inspires people to get outside and exercise. This year, we're especially excited to build on that energy through our new partnership as the official medical provider of the Portland Thorns and Portland Fire, by offering playful activities that promote movement, and interactive experiences that help families connect with the teams in fun, memorable ways."

Try out an e-bike

Visitors can come by the Portland Rides booth and find out if they qualify for an e-bike rebate! Portland Rides provides income-qualified Portland residents with rebates of up to $1,600 for standard e-bikes, up to $2,350 for cargo e-bikes, and up to $8,500 for adaptive e-bikes, plus $300 for accessories like helmets and bike locks.

At the booth, visitors can:

• Talk to program staff who can answer questions about eligibility, the application process, and participating retailers
• Take a test ride and experience an e-bike
• Spin the prize wheel for a chance to win some program swag

Can't make it? Visit portlandebikerebate.com to learn more about the program and apply.

New East Portland route

Participants are welcome to join the route at any point and head in any direction. The route features newly completed improvements for biking and walking in East Portland. Map by PBOT.

The East Portland 4-mile route is mapped as a convenient out-and-back journey, for a total of 8 miles. It will showcase Mill Park and Centennial neighborhoods. Participants are welcome to join the East Portland route at any point and head in any direction. This event route is specially designed to highlight the network of neighborhood greenways and other infrastructure, parks, and community resources. You can access the event route from your phone by bookmarking the Google Map link.

Are you heading to the event from Gresham? Join the City of Gresham's "bike bus" (a group ride led by experienced riders) to the event! This ride will depart at 11 a.m. from Gresham City Hall and will end along the East Sunday Parkways event route at Verdell Burdine Rutherford Park. For more information, visit the City of Gresham's webpage.

Try BIKETOWN for free! During the event, there will be unlimited 60-minute rides from BIKETOWN. Rides must start or end along the Sunday Parkways route to be eligible. Please remember to lock the bike before 60 minutes expire and return to the service area to avoid additional fees. Visit the BIKETOWN booth at Ventura Park to learn more!

Traffic impacts during Sunday Parkways

Parking on streets along the East Portland Sunday Parkways route is forbidden on the day of the event. "No Parking" signs will be posted in advance. Vehicles left on the route will receive an $85 citation for violating the temporary no parking zone and will be towed beginning at 6 a.m. on Sunday. Vehicle towing and storage fees can be found here.

During East Portland Sunday Parkways, streets along the route will be closed to motorized traffic from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with limited local access to homes or businesses on the route. It is best to avoid driving in the area to avoid delays. Intersections will have temporary barricades set up with volunteers available to help people who are driving through to get where they need to go.

The route features designated crossings for motorized vehicles to allow safe passage through the area. Vehicle traffic is permitted to cross northbound and southbound at SE 122nd Ave, SE 135th Ave, SE 139th Ave, SE 148th Ave, and SE 162nd Ave. Vehicle traffic will also be allowed to cross eastbound and westbound at SE Stark St, SE Millmain Dr, and SE Division St.

The East Portland route offers a fantastic opportunity to explore Portland city parks in a family-friendly setting. Photo by PBOT.

Free family-friendly activities

Sunday Parkways provides something for the whole family! The four featured activation areas along the route will offer a variety of free family-friendly activities and live entertainment, including:

• The Adaptive Bike Clinic hosted by Shriners Children's Portland, Adaptive Sports Northwest, and Adaptive BIKETOWN will be located across from Parklane Park at the corner of SE Main St and SE Hawthorne Ct from 11:00 a.m. -1:30 p.m. There will be a fleet of adaptive bikes to ride and trained professionals available to assist with fitting. Join the annual adaptive group ride at this location, starting at 1:30 p.m. to participate in a leisurely ride to Verdell Burdine Rutherford Park. If you do not require an adaptive bike, but would like to ride with the group, free rides are available through BIKETOWN.
• Learn the fundamentals of skateboarding with Dream Big City. Free skateboard rentals, safety gear, and coaching provided from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. for youth and families of all skill levels.
• Ride the City of Gresham's one-of-a-kind bike obstacle course at Verdell Burdine Rutherford Park-and when you're finished make yourself a smoothie with the human-powered bike blender.
• Enjoy music from DJ Ambush and Majik9 with special guest performers Mat Randol and Wavy Josef, as well as dance performances from Hip Hop Soulsation Academy at Lincoln Park's Hip Hop Stage.
• Learn how to Fix a Flat hosted PBOT's Portland By Cycle Team. Half-hour Fix a Flat Demo start times: 11:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 1:40 p.m.

Stay connected all season long

Subscribe to the Sunday Parkways e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @PortlandSundayParkways to stay up to date. For East event updates and day-of reminders delivered straight to your phone, text "East" to 888-520-0526. Standard text message rates may apply. Opt-out anytime by texting "STOP".

Contact Portland Sunday Parkways team

Email:[email protected]
Call:311 / 503-823-4000
Visit PBOT's Sunday Parkways website

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About Sunday Parkways

Portland Sunday Parkways Presented by Kaiser Permanente,is a Portland Bureau of Transportation program that promotes healthy active living through a series of free events opening the city's largest public space - its streets - to walk, bike, roll, and connect with community. For more information, visit PortlandSundayParkways.org or call 311 / 503-823-4000.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.6 million members in 9 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.

About Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF)

The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) initiative was passed by 65% of Portland voters in November 2018. It provides a consistent, long-term funding source and oversight structure to ensure that our community's climate action efforts are implemented to support social, economic, and environmental benefits for all Portlanders, particularly communities who have been historically under-resourced. The initiative was supported by a broad coalition of groups and individuals and represents the first environmental initiative in Oregon led by communities on the frontlines of climate change. Visit the PCEF website for details.

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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides people and businesses access and mobility.