Sunday Parkways

I attended Sunday Parkways which is a (PBOT) Portland Bureau of Transportation organized event. The purpose of this event is to get Portlanders out riding their bikes, but also scooters, skates, and boards in specific quadrants of the city. The route is made by connecting city parks and bike streets. Each park on the route has food trucks and tents with non-profit organization and businesses tabling. It feels like a big party for the city quadrant and is a great activity for families. The route is planned and and intersections are managed and blocked by city workers and volunteers. This Sunday Parkways took place right outside my house at the nearest park. During my attendance I paid extra attention to the ways in which this event and others like it act as place-making work. I believe city activities like this that are inclusive bring joy to participants in spaces that people involved are familiar with, adds positive memories to a neural bank and in effect, pushes for care and connection to place.

Happiness is deeply rooted in surrounding environments, and environments can benefit from happy dwellers. Happy dwellers can benefit from other happy dwellers in community and can organize together to do more good. It becomes a happiness, care-based, connection loop.