Located off the Eastbank Esplanade near the Hawthorne Bridge, Audrey McCall Beach was once a neglected stretch of riverfront littered with concrete, trash, and riprap. Over the years, HAP and our volunteer Beach Brigade transformed it into a true city beach—removing more than 50 yards of debris, adding a swim ladder to the dock, and introducing a trail and stairways to the river. In summer 2025, our Tuesday Splashdown events brought nearly 200 people to the beach each week, celebrating a new era of river access in Portland's Central Eastside neighborhood.

The transformation of St Johns' Cathedral Park into a utilized and loved riverside destination has been one of HAP's greatest achievements. Since 2021, we have mobilized hundreds of volunteers to remove over 200 tons of concrete and rubble, creating the park’s north and south beaches. HAP also played an instrumental role in replacing the Cathedral Park Dock—securing a $300,000 ARPA grant and partnering with Portland Parks & Recreation on the $900,000 project, which features swim ladders and floating pontoons to improve water circulation. HAP continues to steward the site, removing derelict pilings and further enhancing St Johns' first and only river access point.

Since 2012, HAP has “UnRocked the Bowl,” removing over 50 tons of riprap from the river’s edge to create a beach at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Next up: transforming this space into a world-class, toes-in-the-river waterfront park designed for vibrant public use and year-round connection to the Willamette. Learn more here.