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News Release

Grand Ronde And City Of Oregon City Advance Next Phase Of Public Access To Willamette Falls - 07/30/26

The partners have selected Maul Foster & Alongi to lead design of the next segment of public access at tumwata village.

 

OREGON CITY, OR – The public path to Willamette Falls is moving into its next phase of design. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the City of Oregon City have selected Maul Foster & Alongi (MFA) as lead design consultant for the next segment of the public riverfront, the riverwalk at tumwata village. With this selection, public access to Willamette Falls takes another important step forward at the Tribe’s redevelopment of the former Blue Heron Paper Mill.

 

MFA was chosen through a competitive process for its multidisciplinary team, its experience with complex permitting, and its work on culturally informed design. The firm will begin work immediately, advancing detailed design, engineering, and permitting for the next segment of the riverfront. Their work will build on planning and concept studies already completed for the site.

 

The design and construction of this phase is funded with $12.5 million in Oregon State Parks dollars, provided through a pass-through allocation from Oregon Lottery revenues.

 

“For generations, we have been caretakers of this land and have welcomed many to this sacred place. That cultural practice also drives this next phase at tumwata- bringing life back to the landscape and providing public access, we will be able to share this special place with our families, neighbors, and guests,” said Grand Ronde Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. “We are grateful that Oregon City shares this vision with us and is eager to take this next step with us.”

 

“This is a monumental step forward for not only the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde but for our entire community,” said Oregon City Mayor Denyse McGriff. “We look forward to getting one step closer to the river thanks to the partnership with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.”

The design work for this phase will focus on:

  • Advancing design of riverfront alignments and public access areas
  • Supporting ecological restoration and habitat improvements
  • Preparing construction-ready documents for future build-out

Major milestones will be shared publicly as the work progresses.

 

About tumwata village

tumwata village is the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s redevelopment of the 23-acre former Blue Heron Paper Mill site on the Willamette River in Oregon City, ancestral land central to tribal life for generations. tumwata is the Grand Ronde name for Willamette Falls and means “waterfall” in Chinuk Wawa.

The Tribe purchased the property in 2019 and broke ground on the first phase of construction in May 2026. The project pairs residential housing, commercial space, and gathering places with environmental healing along the river. It will restore public access to Willamette Falls, the largest waterfall in the Pacific Northwest, for the first time in generations.

For more information, visit www.tumwatavillage.org.

 

About the City of Oregon City

Known as the End of the Oregon Trail, the City of Oregon City is the oldest city west of the Missouri River. Incorporated in 1844, Oregon City is located at the confluence of the Clackamas and Willamette rivers. To learn more about Oregon City, its history, resources and services, visit www.orcity.org.

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Grand Ronde And City Of Oregon City Advance Next Phase Of Public Access To Willamette Falls - 07/30/26

The partners have selected Maul Foster & Alongi to lead design of the next segment of public access at tumwata village.

 

OREGON CITY, OR – The public path to Willamette Falls is moving into its next phase of design. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the City of Oregon City have selected Maul Foster & Alongi (MFA) as lead design consultant for the next segment of the public riverfront, the riverwalk at tumwata village. With this selection, public access to Willamette Falls takes another important step forward at the Tribe’s redevelopment of the former Blue Heron Paper Mill.

 

MFA was chosen through a competitive process for its multidisciplinary team, its experience with complex permitting, and its work on culturally informed design. The firm will begin work immediately, advancing detailed design, engineering, and permitting for the next segment of the riverfront. Their work will build on planning and concept studies already completed for the site.

 

The design and construction of this phase is funded with $12.5 million in Oregon State Parks dollars, provided through a pass-through allocation from Oregon Lottery revenues.

 

“For generations, we have been caretakers of this land and have welcomed many to this sacred place. That cultural practice also drives this next phase at tumwata- bringing life back to the landscape and providing public access, we will be able to share this special place with our families, neighbors, and guests,” said Grand Ronde Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. “We are grateful that Oregon City shares this vision with us and is eager to take this next step with us.”

 

“This is a monumental step forward for not only the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde but for our entire community,” said Oregon City Mayor Denyse McGriff. “We look forward to getting one step closer to the river thanks to the partnership with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.”

The design work for this phase will focus on:

  • Advancing design of riverfront alignments and public access areas
  • Supporting ecological restoration and habitat improvements
  • Preparing construction-ready documents for future build-out

Major milestones will be shared publicly as the work progresses.

 

About tumwata village

tumwata village is the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s redevelopment of the 23-acre former Blue Heron Paper Mill site on the Willamette River in Oregon City, ancestral land central to tribal life for generations. tumwata is the Grand Ronde name for Willamette Falls and means “waterfall” in Chinuk Wawa.

The Tribe purchased the property in 2019 and broke ground on the first phase of construction in May 2026. The project pairs residential housing, commercial space, and gathering places with environmental healing along the river. It will restore public access to Willamette Falls, the largest waterfall in the Pacific Northwest, for the first time in generations.

For more information, visit www.tumwatavillage.org.

 

About the City of Oregon City

Known as the End of the Oregon Trail, the City of Oregon City is the oldest city west of the Missouri River. Incorporated in 1844, Oregon City is located at the confluence of the Clackamas and Willamette rivers. To learn more about Oregon City, its history, resources and services, visit www.orcity.org.

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