Depave kicks off six weeks of summer pop up plaza events with ‘4th Annual Big Break Block Party’
This Saturday’s party celebrates Depave’s ‘Future Green Plaza’ at SE 7th & SE Sandy with live bands, skating, free drinks, and a living stage created by local artists
From August 9th to September 19th, community-powered Portland nonprofit Depave and partners will demonstrate a ‘future green plaza’ planned for the intersection of SE 7th and SE Sandy Blvd in Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District.
The summer pop up features a series of free events beginning with the 4th Annual Big Break Block Party from 5-11 pm Saturday, August 9th, which activates the plaza with a mini skate park built by Concrete Collective and co-sponsored by Push Movement and Seek Skate Camp, performances by 7 local bands, and free drinks from Portland Coffee Roasters, Happy Mountain Kombucha, Breakside Brewery, and Living Haus Beer Co.
The plaza design project team will chat with the public about current plans to retrofit the sprawling intersection for safe bike and pedestrian passage, park space, traffic calming, and expanded tree canopy. Volunteers and the nonprofit Ground Score Association will maintain the plaza over the course of the 6 week activation, which overlays the space with temporary planters and greenery according to PBOT permits.
Depave also announces the hire of a new Executive Director, Malena Marvin, as it grows to take on larger collaborative placemaking projects with an emphasis on inclusion and serving those at the frontlines of the climate crisis. No stranger to Portland, Malena graduated from Reed College in ‘01 and brings 20 years of nonprofit, environmental justice, and entrepreneurial start-up experience to Depave.
“I’m thrilled to join Depave’s spirited network of volunteers, nonprofit and business partners, local government programs, and thoughtful donors. In a time of intensifying crises, it’s good to get together and celebrate what we can do for our communities from the ground up,” said Marvin.
Block party organizer Katherine Rose, Depave’s Communications and Engagement Manager, has curated 6 weeks of events celebrating community-driven multimedia art, healing, music, food, local crafts, skating, and place-making.
“With events like a night art market and dance party hosted by Art Heaux Studio, to a Photobooth for the Future Fundraiser for plaza partner Portland Indigenous Marketplace, and a Push Movement Skate Party, we’re conjuring vibrant, multicultural community space in the heart of the Central Eastside,” said Rose. “We put a lot of work into making this dream a reality and we invite the public to help us create the new plaza.”
The Big Break Block Party and summer plaza activation is sponsored by Travel Oregon, Portland Parks Foundation, and by Depave’s partners, donors, and supporters. Those wishing to help underwrite the design and construction of the future green plaza may make tax-deductible contributions at Depave.org/donate.