The shortlisted teams—SWA of New York, the Bjarke Ingels Group of Brooklyn, and Studio Egret West Limited of London—were chosen from 50 submissions spanning 15 countries by a panel of local and international judges, including experts from Harvard and Johns Hopkins universities. The competition is funded by a $750,000 Metro 2040 grant.

The park, a 30-acre green strip along the Willamette River, was created in the 1970s when Portland removed a freeway—a move that helped spark the rejuvenation of downtown. But Randy Gragg, co-director of Design Portland, said the original design prioritized green space over connection to the river and the city.

"What resulted was basically a green strip," Gragg said. "The park's really cut off from downtown by Naito Parkway. So, this design competition is an opportunity to really rethink how we use the park. How it functions in the city. How it pays for itself."

Gragg noted that downtown Portland has shifted from an employment and shopping hub to a quieter district, creating a need to redefine its purpose. "With the change in the nature of downtown from being an employment and shopping district to being kind of empty, there's a need to rethink what downtown is about," he said.

The three teams are exploring a wide range of ideas, including a floating park, a concert bowl, shops, cafes, and even a swimming beach with docks. During the next stage, they will develop designs for the entire park, with a special focus on the bowl area north of the RiverPlace Hotel.

Mayor Keith Wilson has championed the redesign as a key part of his plans for the city. "Portland's waterfront is ready for a new chapter, and these three teams bring the bold ideas and creativity to help us shape it," Wilson said in a statement. "Their work will give Portlanders a glimpse of what's possible—a waterfront that's more connected, more welcoming, and more reflective of who we are and who we want to be."

The competition marks Portland's first international design contest since 2003, which led to the OHSU aerial tram. Gragg hopes this effort will give the city a similar win, noting that Portlanders have "a lot of Vancouver envy right now" over the neighboring city's revitalized waterfront.

Other U.S. cities have also invested in their waterfronts, including Chicago's Riverwalk, Seattle's Elliott Bay, and Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Park.

Once a design is chosen, funding will need to be assembled from local politicians, philanthropists, business and community leaders, as well as state and federal sources. Constructing a concert bowl venue alone could cost more than $40 million. "Money follows good ideas," Gragg said.

Art Pearce of Portland Parks and Recreation said he hopes some ideas can be realized quickly, even as larger projects take time. "What we're hoping to see is more year-round, small-scale activations start to complement the existing large festivals that are already happening in Waterfront Park, so that there's a reason to come every day," Pearce said.

Some beloved features of the park are likely to remain, including the Japanese American Historical Plaza, the mature cherry trees, and the Salmon Street Springs fountain—though they could be enhanced.

The three design teams will present their ideas in January. "I can't wait to see their visions take shape and to hear from the community as we imagine this future together," Wilson said.