Sunday Parkways Brings Strong Support for the Zoo Railway

Jim visiting with Mike and his family at Sunday Parkways

Thank you to everyone who visited the Friends of the Washington Park & Zoo Railway at North Portland Sunday Parkways on August 2!

It was a wonderful day of community outreach. We collected150 signatures in support of restoring the historic Rose Garden Loop—and had even more conversations with people eager to learn about the railway and share their memories.

Our new volunteer, Isaac, told us how disappointed he was that he never had the opportunity to ride the train through Washington Park. Stories like Isaac’s remind us why restoring the full railway matters: a new generation deserves the chance to experience this special part of Portland’s history.

We were also delighted that City Councilor Dan Ryan stopped by to say hello. Dan was one of the earliest supporters of our restoration effort, and we appreciated his visit.

A special thank-you to volunteers Lisa, Steven, Jim, Roberto, Isaac, and Kathy for representing the Friends and making the day such a success. We are especially grateful to our returning volunteers, who continue to give their time and energy at so many events, and to Roberto and Isaac for joining our outreach team for the first time.

Every conversation, signature, and question helps build momentum toward bringing the Rose Garden Loop back. Thank you, North Portland, for such an enthusiastic welcome!