Colette Bouchard After She Cut the Red Ribbon at the Opening of the Bayside Trail

By Carol McCracken  (Post 554)

Just after 4 pm this afternoon Colette Bouchard  cut the big red ribbon that officially opened the long-awaited opening of the Bayside Trail to the public.  About 100 people including city and state officials attended the celebration – US Congresswoman Chellie Pingree spoke to the hot and enthusiastic crowd.

“The trail is the result of a ten year effort to re-imagine the area,  stimulate economic development and build a welcoming and safe neighborhoold for residents and local businesses.  The one and two tenths mile trail has tansformed a 13.2 acre corridor that runs parallel to Marginal Way through the Bayside Neighborhood into a ribbon of green that will connect the Eastern Prom with Deering Oaks Park.” said Nicole Clegg, in a press release.

“Todays celebration would not be possible were it not for the hard work and commitment of the city, the community and local businesses to redeveloping Bayside into an urban, mixed use and transit oriented neighborhood,” stated  City of Portland Mayor Nicholas M. Mavodones.  “It is incredibly rewarding to see this vision come to life as the Bayside Trail will serve as a catalyst and stabilizing factor for continued development and revitalization by bringing pedestrians and cyclists to the neighborhood, which will improve the quality of life for those living here and increase the safety of the neighborhood.”

Bouchard is secretary of the Bayside Neighborhood Organization and has served on many trail planning committees for years.