Vancouver’s first-ever traffic garden, known as the Heights Bike Garden, is set to open this June.
According to the City of Vancouver, the Heights Bike Garden will “provide a fun, community-serving space at the site of the former Tower Mall.” Located within a large redevelopment area bordered by Mill Plain and MacArthur boulevards, the site is just two miles north of Portland’s Marine Drive and about a six-mile bike ride from the Kenton neighborhood in north Portland.
A Safe Space for Learning and Fun
The Heights Bike Garden will offer a traffic-free space where children and riders of all ages can learn basic cycling rules, road safety, and traffic navigation without the risks posed by vehicles. Often called “traffic gardens,” these spaces have been popular in Europe since the 1950s and have recently gained traction in Portland and Washington County.
Vancouver’s Bike Garden will transform an empty parking lot into a vibrant cycling education space as part of the Heights District redevelopment, a future mixed-use neighborhood. The project’s design was created by First Forty Feet, in collaboration with Discover Traffic Gardens, and is the largest traffic garden the firm has worked on.
Get Involved: Volunteer & Grand Opening Celebration
The City of Vancouver is seeking volunteers to help paint the design and bring the Bike Garden to life. If you’re interested in lending a hand, volunteer events will take place on June 1st and 2nd.
The official grand opening celebration will be held on June 8th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at 5411 Mill Plain Blvd. Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle and members of the City Council will be in attendance, and local nonprofit Bike Clark County will offer bike safety lessons for attendees.
This exciting addition to Vancouver will provide a safe, engaging space for the community to enjoy cycling while promoting education and sustainability in the growing Heights District.
