Human Access Project

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Human Access Project
FounderWillie Levenson
PurposeTo transform Portland's relationship with the Willamette River[1]
HeadquartersPortland, Oregon, U.S.
WebsiteOfficial website

Human Access Project (HAP) is an organization based in Portland, Oregon, whose mission is "transforming Portland's relationship with the Willamette River".[1][2] The organization's vision is a city in love with its river.[2][3][4] HAP was founded by Willie Levenson, whose official title is the organization's Ringleader,[2] is Portland’s fiercest advocate for swimming in the Willamette River[5] and is somewhat of an evangelist of Willamette River recreational access in Portland.[6][7][8][9] The river is the city's second largest public space and natural area, but less than 5 percent of the city's footprint has access to the waterfront.[10][11][12][13][14]

The group spearheaded the creation of the River Hugger Swim Team,[1][15] Audrey McCall Beach and Poet's Beach,[16][17][18] the opening of the Kevin Duckworth Memorial Dock for swimming, fishing and non-motorized boating,[19] and organizes events such as the Big Float, Mayoral Swim, Duckworth Wednesday's and Valentine's Dip.[20][21][22][23][24]

History and activities[edit]

2013 photograph of the longest line of swim rings / tubes, per the Guinness World Records

Willie Levenson founded the Human Access Project in 2010.[19]

On July 5, 2013, HAP set a Guinness World Record for the "longest line of swim rings / tubes" with a total of 620 participants.[25][26][27]

In 2014, Levenson performed "Our River", a song he wrote with Tom Vandel to promote human access to the Willamette River, for City Council. The recorded song is performed by Lewi Longmire and Anita Lee Elliot.[28]

In August 2017, HAP organized a solar eclipse viewing on the river, in innertubes launching from the Portland Fire and Rescue Station 21 Dock.[29][30]

Site improvements[edit]

Poet's Beach (pictured in 2020) was officially recognized in 2017
Audrey McCall Beach (pictured in 2020) was officially recognized in 2019
The Kevin Duckworth Memorial Dock debuted as a non-motorized swimming and fishing dock in 2020

In 2012, the organization spearheaded a plan to ask Portland Parks & Recreation to designate an official city beach at the southern end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park. HAP also organized a cleanup of Tom McCall Bowl Beach called "Unrock the Bowl", where volunteers lugged riprap stones from along the water line back up into the park.[31][32] The group successfully lobbied the city to add "swim at your own risk" signs to Tom McCall Bowl Beach in 2013. In 2014, HAP paid for larger signs to be created and installed at Tom McCall Bowl Beach and what would become Poet's Beach.[33]

In 2015, mayor Charlie Hales set aside $300,000 in the city's budget to study ways to boost river access, as a result of lobbying from HAP.[34] HAP also added a swim ladder to the Portland Fire and Rescue Station 21 Dock, effectively creating a new recreational access point to the river.[35] With the addition of a swim ladder the "Fire House" Dock became launching point of the River Hugger Swim Team.[36]

In 2017, HAP partnered with Portland Parks & Recreation to open the city's first officially recognized public swimming beach, Poet's Beach.[37] Additionally, HAP began work to mitigate a harmful cyanobacterial bloom that has become a regular occurrence in the summer inside the Ross Island Lagoon, in partnership with Oregon State University.[38][39][40] HAP also commissioned a dock swim study by landscape architectural firm M.I.G. to reimagine the Kevin Duckworth Memorial Dock as a non-motorized swimming and fishing dock.[41]

On July 5, 2019, HAP partnered with Portland Parks & Recreation to open Audrey McCall Beach as the city's second officially recognized public beach.[42] In 2020, HAP was successful in converting the use of the Duckworth Memorial Dock from motorized to non-motorized and implementing improvements including the addition of eight swimming ladders and bicycle parking racks.[43][44] In 2021, the group led an effort to remove 25 tons of concrete and rubble from the river's edge of Cathedral Park with help from partners and volunteers.[45] HAP and the landscape architecture firm GreenWorks P.C. also developed a concept for a park and ramp design in connection with the proposed Burnside Bridge replacement. On November 21, 2021, Portland City Council voted to further investigate this concept by spending $20,000 to do cost analysis and feasibility of adding a park and ramp to the bridge.[46][47][48][49][50]

In 2022, HAP and Portland Parks & Recreation designated six safer swimming areas on the Willamette River: Audrey McCall Beach, Cathedral Park Beach, Kevin Duckworth Memorial Dock, Poet's Beach, Sellwood Riverfront Park Beach, and Tom McCall Bowl Beach.[51][52][53]

In 2023 U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley championed $100,00 of funding for HAP for Ross Island Lagoon harmful cybobacteria bloom research through the United States Senate.[54] That year HAP also partnered with Green Anchors, other partner organizations and 200+ volunteers to remove 100 tons of concrete and rock from the south end of Cathedral Park Beach.[55] That year HAP also continued their work from 2012 at Tom McCall Bowl Beach "Unrocking the Bowl", where 100 volunteers lugged 20 tons of riprap stones from along the water line back up into the park and improved two trails to the river.[56][57]

Events[edit]

In 2016, incumbent Portland mayor Ted Wheeler swam his ballot across the Willamette River with the River Hugger Swim Team,[58] and later joined HAP for the first annual Mayoral Swim.[59]

The Big Float[edit]

The group held the first annual The Big Float in 2011.[60] Over 25,000 participated over the ten years of the event.[61][62] The intent of the event was to demonstrate to the community that the Willamette River is swimmable. The event was described by the organization's Ringleader as "a movement disguised as a party".[63] The organization produced the last event in 2022 roughly 5,000 people attended.[64]

Mayoral Swim[edit]

The first Mayoral Swim, 2016

As a way to lead by example and demonstrate to the people of Portland that the Willamette River is safe for swimming and recreation from a human health perspective, HAP organized an annual Mayoral Swim with Wheeler.[65] The first and second events were held on August 18, 2016, and July 27, 2017, respectively.[66] The event happened again in 2018[67] and 2019.[68]

Valentine's Dip[edit]

The first Valentine's Dip, 2018

HAP had its first Valentine's Dip in February 2018. Twenty-five people braved 45 degree water to take their version of the "polar bear" plunge into the river. The event drew attention to the fact that people can swim in the Willamette River, even in the rainiest time of the year.[69] Approximately 60 people took the plunge in the second annual Valentine's Day Dip in February 2019. The event marked 110 consecutive days of no combined sewage overflows into the Willamette River.[70] Approximately 100 people took the plunge in the third annual Valentine's Dip in 2020. The event marked 180 days of combined sewage overflows into the Willamette River.[71] In 2022, HAP retired the Valentine's Dip to join forces with Special Olympics Oregon when they moved their annual Polar Plunge to the Willamette River from the Columbia River.[72]

River Hugger Swim Team[edit]

The River Hugger Swim Team

Established in 2012,[73] the River Hugger Swim Team is an open water "recreational protest swim" bringing attention to the extreme deficit of water edge access in Portland.[74] The group's goal is to swim together as a pod and create awareness to commuters and people utilizing the Eastbank Esplanade that it is safe to swim in the Willamette River.[75] In 2018, Wheeler joined nearly 40 swimmers to kick off the HAP's swim season for its River Hugger team.[76][77] In early mornings, they swim across the river. In the afternoons, when river traffic is heavier, they swim from the Hawthorne Bridge to the Morrison Bridge and back, sometimes multiple times. Each length (bridge to bridge) is roughly one third of a mile.[78]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Urban Swimming: Portland's Willamette River". National Geographic Society Newsroom. August 9, 2014. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Hanson, Zella (2022-07-07). "The Big Float is throwing itself a going-away party on the Willamette River". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  3. ^ Ogle, Wesleigh (2019-07-10). "The Big Float 9 kicks off summer on the Willamette River". KATU. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  4. ^ "Project at Ross Island could help stop the Willamette River from turning green". KGW. September 6, 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  5. ^ "Portland's Fiercest Advocate for Swimming in the Willamette River Is Declaring War on Algae". Willamette Week. 2023-08-23. Archived from the original on 2023-09-16. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  6. ^ Westling, Morgan (September 29, 2020). "Portland's Newest Swimming Hole Is Ready for Your Diving Pleasure". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  7. ^ Ross, Erin (August 16, 2018). "Fixing The Willamette's Toxic Algae Problem Could Start At Ross Island". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2020-11-15. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  8. ^ Learn, Scott (2012-07-26). "Big Float organizer: Willamette River is Portland's overlooked 'gigantic swimming pool'". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  9. ^ "Help Us Design a Wonderful Waterfront". Sera Architects. 2014-09-24. Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  10. ^ "Ick-free and Ready for Dip: Portland Touts Revived River". www.voanews.com. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  11. ^ "The Big Float on the Willamette River returns for 10th - and final - year in Portland". KATU. 2022-05-30. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  12. ^ "Yes, you can safely swim in the Willamette River in Portland (usually)". KGW. March 16, 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  13. ^ Brown, Doug. "Portland Plans Upgrades, "World Class, Urban Swimming Hole" at the Duckworth Dock". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  14. ^ "The Big Float | The Magazine of Radford University". www.radford.edu. Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  15. ^ "Portland river once shunned by swimmers enjoys rapid renaissance". Christian Science Monitor. 2017-07-14. ISSN 0882-7729. Archived from the original on 2018-06-25. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  16. ^ Nagle, Brendan (July 23, 2019). "A New Swimmable, Loungeable Beach Is Open Under the Hawthorne Bridge". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2019-09-23. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  17. ^ "Dozens of Catlin Gabel students help cleanup Poet's Beach". KPTV.com. June 6, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-09-23. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  18. ^ Theen, Andrew (2015-06-25). "The Central Question: After years of work, Willie Levenson sees advocacy turn to action". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  19. ^ a b "Where We Live: Accessing the Willamette River". KOIN. August 24, 2020. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  20. ^ Gallivan, Joseph (July 13, 2019). "Big Float leader unconcerned by shrinkage". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  21. ^ Sievert, Hannah (July 9, 2019). "Taking the plunge". Portland Business Journal. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
  22. ^ "Human Access Project dives into Willamette to celebrate winter milestone". KATU. 2018-02-14. Archived from the original on 2019-09-23. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  23. ^ "Duckworth Summer Wednesdays brings 'soul' of the city to the Willamette". KOIN.com. 2023-07-12. Archived from the original on 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  24. ^ Commissioner Mingus Mapps speaks at Duckworth Dock, archived from the original on 2023-07-28, retrieved 2023-07-28
  25. ^ "Longest line of swim rings / tubes". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  26. ^ "Hundreds gather to break world record on Willamette". KGW. July 5, 2013. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  27. ^ "Voices 2014: Bring Urban Beaches To The Willamette". Willamette Week. 2013-12-31. Archived from the original on 2022-01-22. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  28. ^ Theen, Andrew (2014-06-18). "Are you a river hugger? Willamette River advocates perform river 'anthem' for City Council: Portland City Hall Roundup". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2020-10-25. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  29. ^ "Path Of Partiality: Portlanders Celebrate Solar Eclipse - OPB". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  30. ^ "UO professor suggests a Willamette River view of the eclipse in Portland | Around the O". around.uoregon.edu. 2023-07-30. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  31. ^ Theriault, Denis C. "Son of a Beach!". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  32. ^ Simmons, Kali (2012-08-08). "Taking the plunge". Vanguard. Archived from the original on 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  33. ^ Law, Steve (2014-04-03). "New, larger sign greets Willamette River swimmers". Portland Tribune. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  34. ^ Theen, Andrew (2017-06-08). "Portland eyes future of Willamette River, talks 'renaissance'". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  35. ^ Law, Steve (2017-06-20). "A vision for swimming". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  36. ^ Tomlinson, Stuart (2016-06-22). "Swimming the Willamette River: River Huggers and the Big Float". KATU. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  37. ^ Labrecque, Jackie (2017-07-06). "Poet's Beach will have life guards, swim rope along Willamette River's west banks". KATU. Archived from the original on 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  38. ^ "Fixing The Willamette's Toxic Algae Problem Could Start At Ross Island - OPB". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  39. ^ "Portland environmental group sues the Oregon DEQ over harmful algae bloom at Ross Island". KGW. April 11, 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  40. ^ "Toxic algae in Willamette River tests harmful for dogs". KGW. August 6, 2021. Archived from the original on 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  41. ^ Law, Steve (2017-06-20). "A vision for swimming". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  42. ^ "Audrey McCall Beach opens on east bank of Willamette River, marking Portland's second public beach". KGW. July 5, 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  43. ^ "Portland's Newest Swimming Hole Is Ready for Your Diving Pleasure". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  44. ^ "Duckworth Dock to get new bike parking area". BikePortland. 2020-08-17. Archived from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  45. ^ "Cathedral Park beach gets a cleanup at low tide from dozens of volunteers". KGW. April 17, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  46. ^ "New river park downtown?". KOIN.com. 2021-11-18. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  47. ^ Mechanic, Allison (2021-12-16). "Burnside Bridge opportunity: City Council allocates thousands to look into revitalization". KATU. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  48. ^ "Advocates push for accessibility options for replacement Burnside Bridge". KGW. December 16, 2021. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  49. ^ "Where We Live: Burnside Bridge Ramp". KOIN.com. 2021-11-29. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  50. ^ Griggs, Taylor (2021-12-06). "Last minute city budget amendment will consider new park on Eastbank Esplanade – BikePortland". Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  51. ^ "Portland Parks & Recreation highlights 6 safer swimming spots along the Willamette River". KATU. 2022-07-25. Archived from the original on 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  52. ^ "Portland Is Officially a Beach Town, and These Willamette Swim Spots Prove It". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-06-11. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  53. ^ "Swimming in Portland's Rivers | Portland.gov". www.portland.gov. 2023-06-12. Archived from the original on 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  54. ^ Baker, Emily (2023-09-06). "Project at Ross Island could help stop the Willamette River from turning green". Merkley. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  55. ^ Community clean up project helps make way for new beach in North Portland, retrieved 2023-09-18
  56. ^ "Riprap removed at Tom McCall Bowl Beach on Willamette River". KOIN.com. 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  57. ^ Staff, FOX 12 (2023-10-02). "Volunteers clean, uncover Tom McCall beach in Portland". KPTV. Retrieved 2023-10-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  58. ^ "Ted Wheeler to Swim Across the Willamette to Drop Off His Ballot". Willamette Week. 2016-05-12. Archived from the original on 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  59. ^ "Ted Wheeler to swim the Willamette again". The Oregonian. 2016-08-10. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  60. ^ Nair, Gabriel (2017-07-12). "6 things you need to know about the 2017 Big Float". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2019-07-05. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  61. ^ "The Big Float on the Willamette River returns for 10th - and final - year in Portland". katu.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  62. ^ Hanson, Zella (2022-07-07). "The Big Float is throwing itself a going-away party on the Willamette River". oregonlive. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  63. ^ Reddick, James (2014-07-28). "Thousands hit Portland's Willamette River for The Big Float (photos/video)". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  64. ^ McCarthy, Connor (2022-07-11). "Last 'Big Float' on Willamette River welcomes thousands of people". KPTV. Archived from the original on 2022-07-12. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  65. ^ Acker, Lizzy (2016-08-19). "We swam across the Willamette with Ted Wheeler and it wasn't even gross at all". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  66. ^ "Mayor Ted Wheeler jumps in the river — again". KOIN.com. 2017-07-27. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  67. ^ Mayoral Swim 2018, archived from the original on 2023-07-30, retrieved 2023-07-30
  68. ^ 4th Annual Mayoral Swim 2019, archived from the original on 2023-07-30, retrieved 2023-07-30
  69. ^ "Valentine's Day plunge | The Southeast Examiner of Portland Oregon". Southeast Examiner. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  70. ^ "Annual Valentine Day Dip celebrates Willamette River". KGW. 2019-02-14. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  71. ^ "Valentine's Day Dip celebrates clean Willamette River". KGW. February 13, 2020. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  72. ^ Gallivan, Joseph (2022-02-22). "Polar Plunge: Aquatic masochists just chillin'". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  73. ^ Bergen, Teresa (2022-04-27). "Portland's Human Access Project Brings Hope to a River". Bluedot Living. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  74. ^ "Yes, you can safely swim in the Willamette River in Portland (usually)". KGW. March 16, 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  75. ^ Skinner, Marjorie. "The River Hugger Swim Team". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  76. ^ "Mayor Wheeler, River Huggers swim the Willamette". KOIN.com. 2018-06-18. Archived from the original on 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  77. ^ Stewart, Hailey (2018-06-20). "Mayor and River Hugger Swim Team trek across the Willamette River". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  78. ^ Acker, Lizzy (2017-07-10). "7 days of adventure on the Willamette River in Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2023-07-31.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Human_Access_Project&oldid=1221643621"