Beloved riverside park near Portland will see months-long closure this fall

Metro says Oxbow Regional Park, a popular Sandy River destination just outside Portland, will shut down for months starting this fall. The agency will close the park beginning Sept. 8 so crews can replace the aging water system. Metro expects the full closure to last through January, affecting access to trails, the campground, river beaches, and even an equestrian trail on the hilltop. Boat launches will also be closed to river traffic. Metro says the project requires heavy machinery on the park’s only road, with major digging and construction, and that keeping part of the park open would slow emergency response. The new system is designed for the next 50 years.