In 1903 pioneer landscape architect John Charles Olmsted proposed to the Park Board of Portland a 40-mile loop of interconnected parks and greenways encircling the city. Since that time, the region has grown and so has Olmsted’s original vision. Today’s 40-Mile Loop is in fact nearly 140 miles and includes many of the region’s premier off-street trails for hiking, bicycling, and jogging, such as the Wildwood Trail, Marine Drive Trail and Springwater Corridor Trail. When completed, the 40-Mile Loop will connect more than 30 parks along the Columbia, Sandy and Willamette rivers, Johnson Creek and the Tualatin Mountains in a continuous off-street trail.
The 2012 East Metro Connections Plan identifies master planning this trail as a high priority given its potential to catalyze transportation investments that will advance economic and community development. The community has shown strong support for this project and will play an active role in shaping the plan as it is developed. The Troutdale to Gresham trail master plan process is guided by a stakeholder advisory committee made up of community representatives and staff from local agencies as well as community input gathered through a robust public engagement process.