St. Helens Riverwalk Project Receives Design and Construction Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 9, 2025

St. Helens, Ore. – The City of St. Helens’ Riverwalk Project has received a 2025 Design and Construction Award from the Oregon Recreation and Park Association (ORPA). The award was presented at the ORPA’s annual conference in Eugene, Oregon on October 8.

The ORPA Design and Construction Awards recognize superior architectural and/or landscape design for new or renovated parks or facilities in Oregon. Nominated designs are supposed to demonstrate inclusiveness and be responsive to community needs and show a high level of overall design quality and innovation. Judging criteria includes the design’s integration of site characteristics and challenges; consideration for maintenance and energy efficiency; budget; community involvement; innovative funding or other partnerships in the design process; uniqueness of design; efficient use of resources; and overall esthetic appeal.

Two design and construction projects are recognized each year; one for excellence in design and construction built at a total construction cost of less than $2 million and a second for a total construction cost exceeding $2 million. The City of St. Helens received the award for a project exceeding $2 million.

The St. Helens Riverwalk Project is dedicated to improving and ensuring public access along an approximate half-mile stretch of the Columbia River in downtown St. Helens, Oregon from Columbia View Park to Plymouth Street and Nob Hill Nature Park. Most of this section of riverfront sat fenced off from public access for decades, held in private ownership as a veneer mill site and then vacant after the veneer plant closed in 2008.  

In 2015, the City of St. Helens acquired the site, removed the fencing to allow public access, and began the planning process to reclaim the waterfront to serve the community in new ways. The property’s unique waterfront location, Cascade volcano views, and proximity to the city’s historic downtown create a rare opportunity to bring new, mixed development to St. Helens in a way that reconnects the community to the waterfront and spurs economic development.

Phase One of the St. Helens Riverwalk Project was completed in June 2025. The project constructed approximately 300 feet of dedicated pedestrian riverwalk within Columbia View Park. Project components also included associated park pathways, water and storm drain utilities, lighting, retaining walls, railings, furnishings, and signage. Funding for this phase was made possible thanks to a combination of three state grants and Parks System Development Charges (SDC) funds. Mayer/Reed was the landscape architect for the project and Advanced Excavating Specialists (AES) was the contractor.

Preliminary design work is currently 30% complete for Phase Two of the Riverwalk Project. This phase includes a future riverwalk pathway extension south to Plymouth Street which will connect to the Bluff Trail which was completed as part of the Streets and Utilities Extension Project. Once the connection is completed, it will create an approximately one-mile pedestrian walking path loop along the banks of the Columbia River and through a portion of the city’s downtown historic district. It includes multiple pedestrian connections through the Riverfront Property site, small plazas with concrete seatwalls, interpretive signage elements, furnishings, riverbank restoration plantings, and key overlook locations. At the center of the project site, there is a proposed rocky beach with pathways which provide access down the Columbia River. At the south end of the project site, there is a proposed recreation hub with an in-water dock facility for launching non-motorized boats. There is currently no timeline for construction of Phase Two.

“The completion of Phase One marks a new chapter for St. Helens where our river, our history, and our vision for growth come together,” said City Administrator John Walsh. “The Riverwalk Project reflects our core values and transforms the waterfront into a vibrant place for people to gather, explore, and thrive.”

The Oregon Recreation and Park Association (ORPA) is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to supporting park and recreation professionals. ORPA provides world-class education, resources, and advocacy to ensure every community in Oregon has access to vibrant parks, inclusive programs, and equitable recreation services. With a strong membership network spanning local agencies, nonprofits, and industry partners, ORPA advances the essential role of parks and recreation in building healthy, connected communities. More information can be found at https://www.orpa.org.

###

For further information regarding the Riverwalk Project award, please contact Communications Officer Crystal King at cking@sthelensoregon.gov