Retired Portland architect William Badrick has a big idea for a new bridge crossing the Columbia. Instead of adding yet another big-ticket item to the already overstuffed city budget, or just another traffic-jam for interstate commuters during rush hour, Badrick has envisioned an ambitious solution: turning an over-water route from Portland to Vancouver into a park that would collect water, provide recreational green space, and reflect Oregon’s eco-friendly values. To offset the carbon footprint of the bridge, Badrick envisions a roofed bridge with a water-collecting park powered by solar panels. In an article written for the Portland Tribune, Badrick explains:
“The park roof will pay for itself by replacing an expensive stormwater treatment facility. It will greatly reduce the bridge’s carbon footprint. It will create public park space for the working-class neighborhoods on both sides of the river, and will draw eco-tourists and their dollars to the Northwest.
It will be our “green golden gate” bridge.”
While this would be almost impossible to get past city council, much less public opinion and tax-paying voters, it’s a great example of Portland’s green-centric ingenuity and creative drive.
