Mold Remediation in Portland, OR

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How much does parking cost?

Downtown District - Includes the Central Business District, South Waterfront and the Pearl District - $2.40 per hour 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Event Meter District - Next to Providence Park currently in effect on Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns home game days - $5 per hour beginning 3 hours before game start and ends 3 hours after game start (view event district map)

Lloyd District - Bounded by the Willamette River, N/NE Broadway, NE 16th and the I-84 freeway. The district includes the Oregon Convention Center, Lloyd Center, Rose Garden Arena, Memorial Coliseum and Lloyd Business District - $1.40 per hour 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, unless otherwise posted. When there are large events that activate the Lloyd Event District, meters may require payment until 10 p.m. and/or on Sundays –Click here for more information.

Marquam Hill District - Located on top of Portland’s Marquam Hill, home to Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Shriners Hospital for Children, the Portland VA Medical Center and other healthcare organizations - $2.00 per hour 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Central Eastside District - Located on MLK Blvd. and Grand Ave. and the streets in between MLK and Grand from I-84 freeway to Clay Street - $1.60 per hour 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Learn more about the Central Eastside.

Northwest District - Bounded by NW Vaughn (on the north), W. Burnside (on the south), NW Cornell and Westover Roads (on the west) and I-405 (on the east) - $2.00 per hour 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday unless otherwise posted. Event pricing is in effect for south of Irving St for Timbers and Thorns home games, $6 per hour beginning 3 hours before game start and ends 3 hours after game start.Learn more about Northwest Portland.

Fees

In addition to the hourly parking rate, users pay the following fees per transaction:

For Fee schedule details, please see the Parking Fee Schedule approved by Council, Exhibit A Parking Fees, Rates and Charges document https://efiles.portlandoregon.g…

When is parking free?

In all districts parking is free at meters (except at city parks) on the following ten (10) calendar holidays, as specified on each meter: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Parking pay stations are programmed not to accept payment on holidays and will display a message on the screen letting you know that it's a holiday. The City of Portland has free parking on calendar City Holidays (actual date) rather than the Federal Observed Holiday.

Where can you park?

If you're coming Downtown (or near Downtown) you'll find yourself in one of the five meter districts. There are over 20,000 on-street parking stalls, along with five SmartPark garages available to the public. Parking on-street is regulated, so you need to check the signs where you park to make sure you are following the parking rules for that space. You need to pay to park almost everywhere, with some exceptions in the Central Eastside. There are also several privately owned parking lots and garages that are not affiliated with the City.

Go to the map

Where can you NOT park?

This is not an exhaustive list. Always check the signs where you park!

How do you pay for parking?

The most convenient way to pay for parking is through Parking Kitty, the City-owned mobile pay app. Park, pay, be on your way.

Download Parking Kitty (Android)Download Parking Kitty (iOS)Use Parking Kitty Web Version

Check out our Parking Kitty video below, it's pawsitively awesome.

Parking Kitty FAQsParking Kitty Zone Map

Parking Kitty is available at the following locations. Click below to learn more.

Portland State UniversityWashington ParkOregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)City of Vancouver, Washington

Portland updated all of it's parking pay stations to be pay-by-plate, meaning no more paper receipt to return to your vehicle. Instructions are on each pay station, as well as in the video below.

Pay by Plate FAQsReport a broken pay stationReceipt Lookup

How long can you park?

In the meter districts you will see signs like this. The number on the sign is the time limit, which tells you how long you can park. The reason we have timed parking areas is to help our local businesses by turning over parking spaces to accommodate more customers. PBOT will be assessing time limits and adjusting them to support central city businesses. Meanwhile we will allow renewing time at parking meters so Portlanders can extend their stay in the central city.

Outside of the meter district or in parts of the Central Eastside you will see signs like this. The number on the sign is the time limit, which tells you how long you can park there before you must move your car to another blockface. Unless otherwise specified, the posted time limit is in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. You do not have to pay for parking in these areas.

If you find yourself in one of the Area Parking Permit Zones you will see signs like this. Signs are slightly different in each zone, but each one will give the timestay limit (usually in the top corner) and the hours of enforcement. Unless you have a residential, visitor, or business permit for that zone you must move your car out of the zone by the end of the posted timestay.

How do truck loading zones work?

Why does Portland have truck loading zones? These zones are for commercial vehicles with signage to use for loading and unloading purposes only. Commercial vehicles are limited to 30 minutes. Each location is designed to meet the needs of the surrounding businesses.

What if you are a customer wanting to park here? Each location is signed with the enforcement hours for the truck loading zone. If you park during these hours you may receive a citation and have your vehicle towed. Outside of the posted hours, the stall will revert to match the rest of the block (unless there is other signage posted). If you are in a meter district, you need to pay for parking, and you can only stay up to the posted time limit (see section above).

Where can people with disability placards park?

There are several disability parking stalls throughout the City, both in meter districts and other areas. These stalls are signed, and only vehicle with valid Disability Placards can park there. Please note that some stalls are signed for Wheelchair Users Only. You must have a valid Disability Wheelchair User Placard to park here.

Go to the map

The rules of how long you can park and how much you must pay vary by location and disability parking stall type.

If you have a Disability Parking Placard - you can park at a 2 Hour meter, pay for 2 hours, and stay for 3 hours. At any meter that's more than 2 hours, you can only stay for the length that you pay for. Outside of the meter districts, you can park for up to 24 hours before you need to move your car.

If you have a Disability Wheelchair User Parking Placard - you can park at any metered location without having to pay and can stay for up to 24 hours. Outside of the meter districts, you can park for up to 24 hours before you need to move your car.

Click here to learn more about disability parking in Portland.

Where can you park motorcycles and scooters?

Portland has several dedicated on-street and SmartPark motorcycle/scooter parking locations. Please see the map below for more information.

Motorcycle/Scooter map

Make sure you do not get a parking citation by doing one of the following:

If a customer receives a parking citation, proof of payment can be validated by contacting pay station customer service at 503-278-5410 within 3 business days. Upon validation, the parking citation for non-payment of the meter will be cancelled immediately.

Other Parking Questions

For decades, the Willamette River that runs through Portland, Oregon, was a look-but-don't-touch situation.

"When we first moved here, there was no way in hell you'd get in the water," resident Matthew Mangus said.

The river was contaminated by raw sewage and had been closed for swimming since 1924, but now things are very different. Willie Levenson, founder of the Human Access Project, helped turn the Willamette into a vibrant recreational space that officially became swimmable again in 2012.

"Step number one — find a way to clean up the river. Step number two — there's the cultural change around getting people to see there's value in this river," Levenson said.

A $1.4 billion pipe project that kept sewage from spilling into the river took care of the first step. Then came step two — an annual inner tube parade called "The Big Float" brought thousands to the water, making the river party central.

"I talk to people who tell me, 'I feel differently about our city now.' They feel more connected to the city," Levenson said.

That's exactly what Nick Wesley is hoping to achieve in Chicago. His non-profit, Urban Rivers, is leading the charge to transform the Chicago River. He believes that within 10 years, it'll be a lot more commonplace to see people swimming in the river.

"I think a lot of people see their waterways as a lot of unrealized potential," Wesley said.

While the idea of an urban river renaissance is providing hope for cities like Chicago and Portland, there's still plenty of work to be done. Of the 3.5 million miles of rivers in the U.S., 50% are too polluted for fishing, boating or swimming, according to American Rivers, a group focused on protecting and restoring rivers.

Efforts to revitalize the rivers began with the 1972 Clean Water Act and now include river renaissance projects in Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta and New York among other cities, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

There's still more that can be done, including a cultural shift in how people perceive urban rivers.

"The most powerful thing is a community of people on a river that love that river," said American Rivers spokesperson Amy Souers Kober.

Chicago had hoped to host its first swim in the Chicago River last month. When organizers hit roadblocks getting the proper permits fast enough, they moved it to Lake Michigan. But organizers and Levenson, who flew in from Portland, are determined to swim in the river next year.

"Once the Chicago River becomes a part of culture, Chicago has a hidden level of joy that it's going to discover," Levenson said.

It's high praise from a man who's already helped his own city discover theirs.

Jim Axelrod

Jim Axelrod is the chief correspondent and executive editor for CBS News' "Eye on America" franchise, part of the "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell." He also reports for "CBS Mornings," "CBS News Sunday Morning," and CBS News 24/7.

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See changing autumnal leaves at Lone Fir Cemetery, Portland Japanese Garden, and across Oregon.

By Portland Monthly Staff October 3, 2024

Coat? Check. Beanie? Check. Pumpkin patches and haunted houses and horror movies on the big screen? Check, check, and check. It’s officially fall, which means, with our sincerest apologies to Bob Dylan: The leaves, they are a-changin’.

Portland and the surrounding area boast incredible autumnal beauty, from the city’s oldest cemetery to the spectacular Japanese Garden to Silver Falls State Park. Here are some of our favorite places to get an annual dose of dying leaves.

In Portland

Buckman

Portland’s oldest cemetery brims with beautiful trees (sugar maples, big-leaf maples, beech, chestnut) as well as carpets of leaves, mossy graves, and plenty of paths for wandering. Circumambulate the whole cemetery in 20 minutes, or spend an hour or two strolling all the paths, the historic rose garden, and the military statues. Perfect for getting your fall color fix while also prepping for spooky season.

Cathedral Park

A beach (with a new swim dock), a bridge, and bountiful views—Cathedral Park offers it all. One of the local Lewis and Clark landing sites, the park now plays host to a bevy of concerts, festivals, and community events. It’s also not unusual to see recent grads, newly engaged couples, and heart-hungry Instagram influencers posing beneath the magnificent arches of the St. Johns Bridge. Pro tip: Walk across the bridge and hit up the Ridge Trail Trailhead on NW Bridge Avenue for a picturesque view of the bridge and park below, all framed within a red-orange canopy of leaves.

Riverdale

Maples, magnolias, oaks, and any number of other deciduous trees are dropping leaves fast and furious. Some trees, like most ash, lose foliage early. Others, such as hornbeams, chestnut, oak, and styrax, drop later. Check in at the booth, make a little donation, and stroll the paths and lawns until you catch a view of the mighty Willamette far below. Expect to spend at least an hour wandering—easily three if you walk up the madrone trails to look down over the river.

Arlington Heights

Cradled in the hills of Washington Park, the Portland Japanese Garden is beautiful in every season, but autumn is perhaps the most dramatic. Japanese maples, Enkianthus, and other Asian trees and shrubs wear fiery colors, set off against the subtle shades of the native conifer and big-leaf maple woodland setting. The tranquil atmosphere invites deep breaths and a slow pace, and expansive views to the east showcase the trees changing color across the city.

Northwest Portland

Pick any trail inside Forest Park and you’ll be rewarded with the subtle colors and glorious variations of our native deciduous trees: various yellows from the big-leaf maple; yellows, reds, and purples from the vine maple, salmonberry, thimbleberry, and devil’s cane; and a beautiful tapestry of understory plants turning gold and orange. Take a half-hour or spend all day here—it’s up to you.

East Columbia

Amid Northeast Portland’s industrial expanse, the Columbia Children’s Arboretum is a quiet haven for tree lovers, surrounded by willows, birches, Douglas firs, red osier dogwoods, black cottonwoods, and maples. It occupies a piece of land once slated for a high school in the long-gone Columbia School District, and was mostly planted by middle school students in the late 1960s. The Columbia Children’s Arboretum Loop Hike is quick, easy, and beautiful, leading to a tall row of maples and American gums that offer great displays this time of year. Bring a book and some snacks and park yourself at the picnic area.

Arlington Heights/Sylvan Highlands

Hoyt Arboretum ranges over 187 ridge-top acres and some 12 miles of trails. Witness autumn transformation of birches, maples, oaks, magnolias, witch hazels, and more. While it could take years to explore the grounds fully, there’s plenty to see in a one- or two-hour walk.

Outside Portland

Southwest Washington

Just off I-5, the Northern Clark County Scenic Drive takes you onto twisty two-lane roads through rural Washington. The 70-mile loop skirts past farmland, waterfalls, and historic sites, and during fall offers kaleidoscopic color. Don’t miss the water-powered, impossibly scenic Cedar Creek Grist Mill, which was built in 1876 and on the last Saturday of October holds a massive apple cider pressing (we’re talking 10,000 pounds of fruit).

Columbia River Gorge

Popular, difficult, and rewarding, the 7.5-mile Hamilton Mountain Loop in Beacon Rock State Park on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge boasts three gorgeous waterfalls and, during fall, rows of yellow maples bordered by towering green Douglas firs. From the summit, take in sweeping views of Table Mountain, Bonneville Dam, and Mount Adams.

Silverton

Falling water plus falling fiery leaves add up to a wonderful autumn outing, which you’ll find at Silver Falls State Park, about 20 miles southeast of Salem. Take the Trail of 10 Falls or explore the park’s 35 miles of trails for all the fall foliage your heart can handle. It goes without saying: Bring your camera.

Eugene

This 209-acre nature preserve in Eugene boasts impressive ecological diversity, with habitats including oak savanna, riparian forest, and prairie. Take in the vibrant turning of the Oregon ash, Oregon white oak, cottonwoods, big-leaf maples, and more. The arboretum’s annual mushroom festival goes down Sunday, October 27, and brings guided nature walks, educational talks, cooking demos, live music, and vendors galore.

Ashland

The deciduous and ornamental trees at this Southern Oregon park deliver autumnal splendor. At the center of the park sits a Japanese garden, which dates to 1916 and reopened in 2022 after a redesign. Small but serene, find Japanese maples, a bamboo forest, and a sand and stone zen garden.

South of Burns

If you’re open to hauling across the state, the high desert Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon is one of the best places for spectacular fall displays. Keep in mind, however, that harsh winds often knock down the golden aspen leaves. For tips on timing, call the Bureau of Land Management district office.