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.