Rough task list following 2/27 Core Group Meeting
Keystone Event
• Riverfest opening ceremony (Aug. 31): Not yet designed or assigned.
• Riverfest Boat Parade (Aug. 31): To be organized with help of River Transportation subcommittee which will meet in March. Need to ID event time ASAP to obtain necessary Coast Guard permits.
• SOLV Youth in Service Day (Sept. 6?): Amy to work with SOLV on more details.
• “South Waterfront Day” (Sept. 6): Leslie and Jeremy fleshing out; working w Ken on Urban Adventures Race & sailing regatta.
Additional Events
Jessika & Susan from Oregon Symphony say they’d recommend RF partnership to Elaine Calder, OS President.
Sharon suggested we contact Multnomah County re Riverfest (either Mike Pullen, public involvement; or Commissioner Rojo DeSteffey.)
City of Portland balking at extending a planned Triathlon closure of Naito Parkway to allow a short period for pedestrian and bike enjoyment. Rick offered to work with Jeff on alternatives.
Sara and Stephanie working on a People Parade; will talk to Scrap re partnering, & work onTriathlon linkage.
Ken will continue to be in contact with the Urban Adventure Race organizers who are committed to a Burnside Bridge to Oaks Bottom route, Sept. 6-7.
Chris will re-approach the Pints to Pasta run organizers (a 10K run along the river that ends at the Old Spaghetti Factory) about involvement with Riverfest.
Amy and Karen reported that their education subcommittee agreed Riverfest needs to develop a clear, simple message that every participant can walk away with.
Amy and Karen will arrange BYOB paddles for weekday evenings or at other times needed to “plug scheduling holes.”
Amy has been in contact with OMSI about Riverfest. There may be an OmniMax film on the Colorado River showing that week and OMSI might be receptive to offering a Riverfest-related discount. In previous Core meetings, it was suggested OMSI might also be able to offer a mid-week free day.
Brian suggested joining w Parks to host a Movies in the Park series in the new neighborhood park location in South Waterfront. Permits may be needed.
Todd suggested an informal evening barbecue at South Waterfront or other location.
Link to the 100th anniversary of the Portland Yacht Club.
Amy will confirm with Lower Columbia River Estuary Program to provide big canoes on a day to-be-specified.
Re-approach Muddy Boots Organic Festival (~ Sept. 6-7) whose theme is community sustainability; organizers might be interested in Riverfest linkages—for example, offering Dragonboat participants discounted admission.
Confirm United Cerebral Palsy Association may hold a riverside bike event.
Other suggestions from the group included:
- increase communication with literary and arts interests (e.g., Lawson Inada, Oregon poet laureate; Friends of William Stafford; connections with the Stafford Stones in George Rogers Park)
- try to involve the Willamette Shore Trolley
- increase contact with TravelPortland (Sharon will contact Deborah Wakefield)
Over-arching Strategic or Administrative Tasks
- community fair design and coordination
- community inclusion strategy
- marketing/publicity strategy
- fund-raising strategy
- involving upstream communities
- securing volunteers (perhaps partner with VolunteerMatch or Hands On Portland)
- securing necessary permits for newly-created Riverfest events