“The Greenest People You’ll Ever Meet”

Grace Pae of Artemis Catering explores the tastier side of sustainability.

Green Appeal
This is a city where, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, some 5,000 residents commute to work each day by bicycle; where city planners ripped out a freeway and replaced it with a park; where parking meters are solar-powered; and where the meticulous synchronization of traffic signals results in an annual savings of 17 million gallons of gasoline. Currently, Portland also boasts the most LEED-certified buildings per capita in the nation.

Ringed by natural beauty — Mount Hood, the Oregon Coast, the Columbia River Gorge, and the Oregon wine country — Portland is obsessed with keeping that beauty unspoiled. Portlanders recycle 63 percent of their waste, one of the highest rates in the U.S. And they and their fellow Oregonians introduced the nation’s first bottle bill in 1971 to encourage recycling.

Portland’s “green appeal” also extends to the monetary variety. Since Oregon has no sales tax, the city’s hotel and convention space carry ultra-competitive prices.

Green Spaces

Portland’s scenic Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park was once a four-lane highway. Civic leaders removed the freeway in the 1970s, reconnecting downtown with the Willamette River.
Portland is home to the nation’s largest urban wilderness — the 5,000-acre Forest Park.
The Portland metro area boasts 37,000 acres of parkland.
Portland has 278 public parks and 150 miles of trails.
All Oregon cities have an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). Portland’s UGB, which is managed by Metro, a regional government agency, is an example of successful urban planning.

Green Lifestyle

Oregon introduced the first bottle bill in the United States in 1971.
More than 5,000 Portlanders commute to work by bicycle. (2000 U.S. Census)
Portland boasts more than 350 miles of bike lanes and paths.
Portland’s Airport MAX light rail was the first train-to-plane option on the West Coast.
The Portland Streetcar was the first modern streetcar system in the nation.
Portland traffic signals are synchronized at 225 intersections, resulting in an estimated annual savings of 17 million gallons of gasoline. (www.epa.gov)
Portland’s “smart” parking meters are solar-powered, accept credit cards and stand one per block. A sticker is issued for each vehicle and is transferable to other spaces.
Portland is the birthplace of car-sharing in the United States. Today, Portland’s Zipcar members enjoy access to a fleet of vehicles located throughout the metro area. Each Zipcar replaces an estimated six cars on the road.

No. 1, "Greenest City in America" — Popular Science (February 2008)

No. 1, "Environmental Friendliness” — America's Favorite Cites survey, Travel+Leisure (September 2009)

No. 1, "Most eco-friendly big cities in America" — SustainLane.com (September 2008)

Best Place to MeetGreen — MeetGreen meeting consultants