How the 4TTrail came to be:
In 2006, as the tram was nearing completion, our son Eric Baack, who grew up in Portland and is now a Biology Professor at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and I (Don Baack) were discussing how to make a greater public asset out of the huge expenditure for the Tram.
Eric came up with the idea of a loop that would include several of our Portland transportation modes: Tram, Trolley (Portland Streetcar) Train (MAX) combined in a loop with a 4 mile pedestrian Trail. He predicted that if it were properly signed and advertised, it would be listed in every tour book mentioning Portland that is written around the world. We were excited about the idea and began searching for the appropriate name. We came up with the “4T” Tram, Trolley, Train and Trail.
Shortly thereafter, I presented the idea to the Portland City Council during a discussion of the final steps in the tram project. Although the city council liked the idea, when Bruce Murray of the Friends of Marquam and I had discussions with the commissioners’ offices, not one of them was willing to fund the estimated $45,000 effort. Jim Thayer, then president of SWHRL, joined us in presenting the idea to Fred Hansen, Executive Director of TriMet, our Portland Metro Area transit agency. Soon after, Mayor Potter decided to fund the effort using some of his discretionary funds. We received a grant for the full amount with the understanding that the effort would be managed by me, Don Baack, and that SW Neighborhoods Inc. would serve as fiscal agent.
Bruce Murray has been my partner in managing this effort since we started in 2007. His wisdom and steady hand were invaluable in negotiating the way forward with the many bureaus and agencies from whom we needed permission to proceed.
Once we secured funding, we hired Sea Reach of Sheridan Oregon, an experienced signage consultant, to help us design the logo, wayfinding and interpretive signage, and to get the whole system installed. We completed the task in September 2009.
This trail wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the following people. Thank you, everyone.
City of Portland
Mayor Potter, Retired
SWTrails Team
Bruce Murray
Phyllis Towne
Jim Thayer
Brian Hatt
Lee Buhler
Don Baack
PDOT
Mark Lear
Matthew Machado
Art Pierce
Parks
Richard Bosch
Dan Moeller
Greg Hawley
Don McTaggart
PDC
Sara King
Travel Portland
Jeff Miller
Portland Ambassadors
Randy Milleer
Oregon Zoo
Carmen Hannold
TriMet
Fred Hansen
Jeremy Ferguson
Portland Streetcar
Rick Gustafson
Kay Dannen
OHSU/TRAM
Ron Cole
David Woo
Metro
David Bragdon
Robert Liberty
SeaReach
Susan Jurasz
Peter Reedijk