Crowds return to downtown Portland for first Portland Sunday Parkways since 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Although Downtown Portland has been struggling for years since the pandemic to get people to dine and shop, on Sunday, tens of thousands of people spent the day riding and strolling through the area during the return of the Portland Sunday Parkways event.

Marking its 18th year in 2025, Portland Sunday Parkways allows people to get to know different parts of city with bikeable routes. Portland Bureau of Transportation estimates around 20,000 came out on Sunday.

Sunday also marks the first Kaiser Permanente Portland Sunday Parkways event in downtown since 2019.

People at the event told KOIN 6 News they had been avoiding the area for a few years after the pandemic, but are starting to see changes. Furthermore, events like these help them explore the area beyond the downtown core.

“I have noticed a significant uptrend in the last couple of years, which is fantastic. It’s important that we all take care of downtown,” Portland resident Brad Hall said. “Obviously, a lot has gone on in the last few years, and it’s always finding a balance between how do we treat people humanely and keep downtown clean and safe as well. I appreciate that Portland is trying to find that balance.”

This weekend the Portland Metro Chamber has been encouraging locals to stay the night in downtown, even launching the Portland Staycation Weekend event, which was inviting Portlanders to rediscover downtown with events and hotel packages.