Willamette Boulevard North Portland Run

North Portland is Portland's 5th quadrant - an area of the city that escaped quartering (phew) by the Willamette River and Burnside Street.  North Portland has also evaded a few other Portland phenomena -- for better and worse ( The Better: teachers can afford to live here, plentiful parking spots, relatively unobstructed views of the Forest Park, an underdog spirit, some cute micro neighborhoods -- The Worse: Traffic noise, the need for a car, fast-food restaurants/payday loan centers/7-11s on the major thoroughfare).

North Portland is our most affordable option and an area that we have to learn more about given its distance from the city center.  Scott and I love tennis and we love magnificent views of Forest Park, so I tried to get to know North Portland by starting my run at the tennis courts at Arbor Lodge Park and then winding through the perimeter of North Portland's neighborhoods along scenic Willamette Boulevard.  Lucky for me, I ran on one of the sunniest and warmest days (63 degrees!!) of 2013.

Here's the Run-O-Meter for my Willamette Boulevard Run:

Rating scale is 1-5: 

1 = the worst;  5 = the best

1--•--•--•--5
Enjoyment
It might be rainy, windy and cold, but a good running route can always bring happiness.

5 - Sweeping views of the River, the city and Forest Park, uninterrupted urban running, tons of sunshine (on this rare day), some of the best sidewalks in Portland, youthful energy along Willamette Boulevard.


1--•--•--•--5
Scenery
Mature trees, flowers, green grass, views of the Willamette River and the West Hills are all welcome sights.

4 - Incredible views of trees and the Fremont Bridge, somewhat obstructed by oil refineries, the Port of Portland and traffic.

1--•--•--•--5
Safety
Traffic, intersections, sidewalk and road conditions tell us a lot about a neighborhood and can turn any run into a zen moment or a terrifying trial.

4 - People expect runners and bikers along Willamette, so there was a lot of traffic that bordered the sidewalk and bike lane, but I never had to break my stride in fear that a driver would not see me.  The route hosts the smoothest sidewalks in Portland - hands down. 

1--•--•--•--5
Difficulty
Charging up hills every mile is hard, thus it will be judged.

5 - Like a pancake - flat with a few lumps.

1--•--•--•--5
Sound and smell
Loud sounds, quiet sounds, good smells, bad smells. A neighborhood defines itself by appealing to the senses.

4 - The Arbor Lodge neighborhood was serene and calming and the Willamette part was filled with the hum of traffic and some exhaust.  Sounds: Wind through my ears, crows, cars and buses, bikers, bagpipes Smells: Spring (and some exhaust), but mostly it smelled like spring and that is among the best smells in the world (disclaimer: this run took place in spring and I am sure it smells like dying worms on the sidewalk all winter)


1--•--•--•--5
Hellos and waves
Because Midwest-nice is important to us.

2 - Nothing -- but no one was mean.


1--•--•--•--5
Number of puppies
Once we get a house, we're getting a puppy...and of course our puppy will need friends.

3 - I only saw 2 puppies on this afternoon weekday run.  However, Arbor Lodge Park had an "off-leash" section where dogs could run free with sticks in their mouths.  There were roughly 5 dogs playing on this particular afternoon (see the small specks of dogs in the picture above)

1--•--•--•--5
People watching
Who lives in the neighborhood?

4 - College Students, young families, politically active people (see picture below).

1--•--•--•--5
Parks
We're keeping an eye out for picnic spots, puppy playgrounds, budding trees and only-in-Portland spectacles.

5 - I loved Arbor Lodge Park!  The tennis court was in tip-top shape and the park had a playground filled with what looked like upside down turtle shell swings, a climbing wall and a marimba.  I also noticed that they have the best benches of any park in Portland - painted pale green, splinter free, with rounded back support.

1--•--•--•--5
Shops and restaurants
Coffeeness and quirkiness are appreciated.

2 - It might be possible to simultaneously die of dehydration and starvation along this route.  I imagine there is a dining hall at the UofP, but I would not eat there.

1--•--•--•--5

Home potential
Can we see ourselves living in this neighborhood?

Maybe - it's relatively affordable, filled with cute houses and near some great parks, but still feels a little distant from the urban core.