Chances for restoring a popular Portland family
entertainment option – the Washington Park Zoo Railway – appear to be growing
thanks to support from Portland Mayor Keith
Wilson and the Metro Council.
Reviving the 3.5-mile recreational train loop through Washington
Park may yet for a few years away.
However, momentum is growing to create a public-private partnership that
would manage the popular train that dazzled riders from 1960 to 2013 when the
park loop was closed.
The Metro Council on Feb. 3 agreed informally to support a
$50,000 contribution for a geotechnical study of the loop that is expected to
cost $250,000. The remaining $200,000 would
have to be raised from other sources.
“So many of us have memories of the full loop,” said
Christine Lewis, a Metro Councilor who served earlier on a task force that
studied options for reviving the route. “It
was an iconic attraction for visitors and residents alike.”
A short ride still exists within the zoo’s boundaries, but
it lasts only a few minutes. The long
loop was closed in 2013 when other projects at the zoo altered the route. The zoo itself has declined to maintain and
operate the longer route that used to offer a stop within Washington Park.
The best option for running and managing the train appears
to be a non-profit entity that can work out dealings with the zoo and the City
of Portland, which owns the long loop as well as the train itself. Friends of the Washington Park Zoo Railway is
the likely candidate. The train presumably could operate profitably if
preliminary problems can be resolved.
Obstacles ahead include track and equipment repairs, and any
safety issues uncovered by the geotechnical review. That study would consider soil conditions,
landslide risks and potential water problems and safety of retaining walls.
The Metro Council’s decision was supported by Olivia Clark,
deputy Portland City Council president, who also served on the task force that
studied revival of the train. “It’s time
to move forward,” she said. “The public is
ready.”
----Fred Leeson
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