If you have ever visited Portland’s Entertainment District in the evening, you know first-hand that it has a vibrant, colorful nightlife that draws people from all over. Located in the heart of the city’s Old Town area, it’s one of the most popular spots to visit. Whether you’re chasing entertainment, looking for a great craft cocktail or dancing, you can find it there.
On Friday and Saturday nights, approximately 10,000 people come to the Entertainment District, so we’ve made it a priority to ensure the safety of all those in the area. Though crime has been greatly reduced since the City of Portland began focused efforts to put safety measures in place, there have still been crimes in the district that negatively impact public safety. This is why my office, Portland Police and Entertainment District business owners thought it would be important to create the Bar Summit.
For several weeks now, the Bar Summit has come together and increased communication and collaboration among businesses, area residents and the City to see how we can further create a safer nightlife experience. Through this collaboration, the business community has shared concerns and focused on ways to increase safety for the entertainment area.
The group will soon come to the city council to report on progress and the specific steps being taken by community partners. The goal is to foster a safe environment, while the community enjoys the best of Portland's nightlife.