Portland's Congress Square Park redesign may resume this summer

Portland's Congress Square Park is set to see a redesign that may restart this summer. The city has issued a request for bids to hire a new contractor after ending its relationship with the previous one in 2023. Friends of Congress Square Park announced the potential resumption of construction on social media. However, a city spokesperson, Jessica Grondin, indicated that a specific start date is still uncertain. The $7.2 million project aims to enhance the park, which has faced multiple delays. Originally, the redesign was supposed to be completed in 2024. The first phase included improvements to the nearby traffic flow and sidewalks. It was supposed to wrap up by fall 2022, but unexpected issues caused significant delays. Phase two focuses on the park itself, with new artwork and upgrades to the plaza outside the Portland Museum of Art. The first contractor completed part of the work but disagreements over delays led to the end of their contract. CJ Opperthauser from Friends of Congress Square Park expressed excitement for the project. He noted that while some events may need to be paused or relocated to nearby squares, he is optimistic about maintaining a busy season of activities. The redesign will also improve accessibility and add more trees to the park.