Share-It-Square, Portland's first community created gathering place. Residents wanted a community focus in their neighborhood, so they claimed a local street intersection as their own public square. The neighbors first constructed representational elements of a public square: a Tea Station , where free, hot tea is available 24 hours a day; an Information Station; a Produce Station where people can get, give away or exchange food freely, and the Tree of Life, which symbolized the new feeling of community. The neighborhood then held a block party and painted a design in the intersection to define the space. Although the City bureaucracy was initially opposed to the idea, the project soon won the support of the City Council and the Mayor of Portland. In January 2000, the Council passed a City ordinance that allows any group of citizens to convert certain street intersections into public squares in their very own neighborhood.

This Community Demonstration Project was built almost entirely with recycled materials and volunteer labor. The total cost of the original installation was less than $200, mostly for the traffic paint used for the street surface design. Share-It Square won a 1999 Governor's Livability Award from Governor Kitzhaber and the Oregon Livability Initiative, the 1997 Citation Award and the 1997 People's Choice Award from the American Institute of Architects, Portland Chapter.

Use letter to find location on ride map.

A. The Solar Sanctuary is in the back yard of 85 SE 8th Street. This structure was built over a 10-day period in the summer of 2001. Joseph Kennedy, who is the author of the book "Builders Without Borders", was here to oversee the building of this structure. The Solar Sanctuary is made of cob, which means a small lump or ball. Cob is made from straw, sand, clay, and water. The ingriedents are mixed by stomping with bare feet. The mixture is then formed into balls and set into place. Cob building can not exceed one foot per day. Wet cob will slump over on it's own weight. Sifted cob is used on the outside of walls to give a smooth texture. The structure is then sealed on to protect it from the elements.

Left on Clatsop
Left on 9th
Right on Umatilla
Left on 21st
Continue on paved alleyway after crossing Tenino
Cross Tacoma. Take bike path on left of creek
Right on Lambert
Left through Westmoreland Park
Left over the foot bridge
Right on 22nd
Right on Bybee
Becomes Tolman
Becomes 28th
Left on 28th at 28th and Woodstock
Continue past the Golf course
Restroom and Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden on Left
Left on Gladstone
Right on 26th

B. Pole Building. Part of the Natural Building Convergence of 2002, this structure is on private property at 3640 NE 26th. We can barely see if from the road. It is to be a foundry where the artist will to cast bronze and do metal forging.

Left on Tibbitts

C. SE 21st Avenue & Tibbetts Street. Crossroads Gateway is located at People's Food Co-op. This cob and stone stay welcomes visitors to the store's new public courtyard and weekly farmers market. The gateway consists of twin cob pillars sheltered by a green roof. Beside each pillar is a cob bench with a slate cap. A walkway leads from the gateway to the store's new entrance. Currently under construction, the new wing of People's will incorporate many green technologies and materials, including two ground level walls made entirely of cob!

Right on 20th

D. 20th and Woodward, Straw Bale Studio. It is on an urbanite foundation, which is broken up sidewalk upon which is placed basalt rock. Cob is added to the foundation. The walls of this structure are straw bales. The bales are compressed with straps to avoid compression from the weight of the roof. Before cob is added to the walls, the straw must be dry. Wet straw if cobbed could compost, create heat, and catch on fire.

East (right) on Woodward
Left on 22nd

E. 22nd and Division - The Seven Corners Community Information Station. This cob and stone kiosk is located outside of a small cafe and will provide a place for neighbors to post information about community events and news. The cabinet includes reused wood, windows, and doors, and is covered with a green roof. Excess rainwater from the roof is directed to the adjacent tree and new bioswale with cob and stone curb. A small photovoltaic panel on the south-facing roof slope provides power for evening lighting inside the kiosk.

Back track to Clinton
Right on Clinton
Right on 14th
Cross at crosswalk at Division and Orange

F. Corner of Birch and Orange on left is the Environmental Middle School Bench. Made by the students. The garden is planted with all native vegetation.

Continue on Orange
Right on 16th
Left on 16th
Left on Tamarack
Right on Orange
Becomes SE Ladd
Right on 16th
Right on Maple
Left on 16th
Right on 16th
Push button and cross Hawthorne to 16th
Right on Taylor
Left on 17th
Right on far end of block into the Park to go to the Labyrinth
Continue through the Park heading East
There is a water fountain in the east end of the Park
Left past the Tennis courts
Right on Belmont
Right on 23rd
Left on Yamhill

G. A winding cob wall and information kiosk continues an intersection improvement process that began with a giant sunflower painted by neighbors on the street surface. The cob kiosk is a place for neighbors to post community-oriented news and events inside a cabinet made of reused wood. A solar-powered cob and stone fountain at the corner uses rainwater harvested from the existing house's roof. The water dissipates into bioswales containing native plantings. Iron oxide is used to color the cob which is then sealed with sodium silicate.

East on Yamhill

H. At 3844 NE Yamhill is the Cob sauna. Also part of the Natural Building Convergence, this dry heat sauna is located on private property in the back yard. We can only see it from the fence. Builders used part of an existing garage then added two cob walls onto the structure.

South on 38th
Right on Taylor
SE Taylor and 37th

I. Bike Memorial Life House. Cyclist Matthew Schekel was struck and killed by a delivery truck at this intersection in May of 1998. Portland's cycling community turned the stop sign into a makeshift shrine with two wheels, a helmet, and a bike frame locked to the pole. Now, with the cooperation of the land owner, SE Uplift, and the Natural Building Convergence, a permanent memorial has been constructed. The sculptural cob memorial is a contemplative place. The column includes niches for flowers and is topped by a solar powered stained glass lantern and green roof. The structure collects rainwater for a garden and small pond. A cob and stone seat has also been constructed. Schekel's mother sees the memorial as the ultimate tribute to her son and hopes the memorial will cause drivers to slow down a little bit.

Left on 37th
Right on Main

J. SE Neighborhood Uplift Information Station Benches and Kiosk. This cob kiosk and curved benches frames a new welcoming plaza in front of the offices of Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Program. The information station provides neighbors, staff, and community members an outdoor place to relax, meet, and talk. The kiosk includes a green roof, inlaid bricks and stones, and a cabinet of reused windows and wood. The benches are cob, with inlaid bricks and a slate cap. A foundation of reused concrete is used to support the structures, and the new paving will be permeable to allow rainwater to soak into the soil.

Continue on Main
Right on 35th
Left on Salmon
Left on 7th
Left on Division
Right on 8th
Left on Woodward
Right on 9th
Right on Powell onto overpass
Right on 9th after the overpass
Left on Cora Street
Right on Milwaukie
Right on SE Ellis
Left on SE 15th
Right on Yukon
Left on 14th
Right on Bybee
Right on Sellwood Blvd.
Restrooms available in Sellwood Park
Left on Spokane
Right on 13th
Drinking fountain on 13th
Right on Tenino
Left on 9th
Wecome Back!
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