Portland is blessed to have a natural “park” that flows right through the heart of our city. But for generations this treasure, the Willamette River, has been mistreated, neglected, and disparaged. The tide has finally turned.
In July of 2025, Portland voted to become a "Swimmable City," joining an international alliance of 100 cities committed to the fundamental belief that urban communities have a right to healthy, accessible, and swimmable waterways. This achievement was due in large part to the Human Access Project (HAP) and its many partners and volunteers that are helping people embrace, cherish, and preserve our river. People protect what they love. Jump in with us and Join the Riverlution!
Human Access Project (HAP) is a nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon founded in 2010. Our role in the community is catalyzing cultural change around how people feel about and interact with the Willamette River. We want the community to view the Willamette River as a gift, something to be valued and protected. We want to foster and drive a connection between the people of Portland and the river that runs through our community. As such, our goals include improving Willamette River edge spaces for recreation, developing creative activation/programming around these spaces, fostering environmental stewardship, community investment and connection with these spaces, and identifying and removing barriers to people feeling comfortable interacting with the river. Our target market is people for whom the Willamette River is their closest natural body of water and who live within five miles of the Willamette River.
Interested in open water swimming in Portland? Check out the River Hugger Swim Team!
RIVER HUGGERS
Follow Us
