PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 28, 2026
Bayside is changing. Hundreds of housing units are under construction or planned, including market-rate and workforce housing. Growth is necessary. But true neighborhood transformation requires more than buildings. It requires investment in amenities that serve the people who live, work and attend school here. Green spaces are vital for everyone. As outlined in the 2000 New Vision for Bayside, residents have long called for grassy areas, trees, benches, picnic tables, exercise equipment for youth and adults and natural space. That vision remains largely unfulfilled. Dedicating just a ¼ acre portion of the site behind Planet Fitness for public park space would still leave roughly three acres available for housing, retail and a parking garage. A small but meaningful green space could anchor the neighborhood, provide safe recreation for students and create a visible sign that Bayside’s future includes balance. ~ Thomas Blackburn, Bayside Neighborhood Association