News

Latest Posts

New Year’s Resolutions

2026 promises to be a big year for Bayside! With thousands of housing units under construction and in planning, new hopes for public greenspace, and the potential for a game-changing community center in Bayside, the future has never looked brighter when you focus on what we can do together locally. Here’s a quick look the year behind us and a peek at what’s to come:

Hundreds of new affordable housing units broke ground in 2025, with more on the way
Local artist Lily Carter painted a utility box thanks to a grant from Portland Downtown
The Garden got new raised beds thanks to a micro-grant from the City of Portland’s Office of Sustainability
The Bayside Block Party rocked the block last summer, with Namory Keita, Cheese the Day, Prosperity ME, Hope Acts, Bumbleroot Organcic Farm and much more.
The inaugural Bayside Pet Costume Parade was a howling success, with too many partners to list
Drummers from the Penobscot nation graced our beloved Bayside Trail at the tree-hugging event with Portland Park Rangers
The Citizen’s Trash Brigade not only took on litter, but helped keep sidewalks clear and safe with help from Baxter Academy Students
The Bayside Business Breakfast Club began in 2025, and is going strong
Harvard School of Government led a forum on the effects of climate change on our neighborhood
Audit of Portland Street’s bikability with Portland’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
First Friday Artwalk in Bayside
We sadly said goodbye to the Immigrant Welcome Center, but vowed to continue its mission
72 Parris Street moves toward a new vision
The Bayside Opportunity Center begins its quest for a true home for the Bayside Community

…and SO much more. Scroll through our “news & events” page for a little trip down memory lane. Our website got a little refresh recently too, so each of the new BNA teams has its own page. Website traffic has increased threefold this year, and so have donations!

Looking Ahead…

Over one thousand new housing units are in development right now in Bayside, with hundreds more proposed, not including the potential for more in the Franklin Redesign and newly re-acquired Midtown Properties, which the BNA believes should also include open space and park amenities to support the new housing. Keep a tab on things and make your voice heard on the Relevant Developments Team and the Trees and Greens Team.

Save the Dates…

BAYSIDE WEEK is coming this spring! Bookended by the Annual Spring Cleanup on April 25th and the Annual Meeting and Elections on May 2nd, many events and activities are being planned throughout the week, including the rollout of a new vistors’ map by the Business Breakfast Club, a treasure hunt, Jane’s Walk, plus the new Bayside First Friday and more. You can help by joining the Events Team.

A new issue of The Baysider is in the works. Deadline for submissions is January 15th. Contact baysider@baysideportland.org for more information.

Join Your Community Organization…

The BNA offers opportunities to serve your community in many different ways. We have a new team lead for the Safe Streets Team, and we’re reforming the Welcome Team too, so there’s lots of room for new team members. There’s always the chance to start a new team if you have an area of interest you’d like to rally with your neighbors to pursue.

The BNA board also has activated the nominating committee to find potential new board members. Every year at the Annual Meeting, one-half of the board is elected for a two-year term. The nominating committee will be announcing the number of available seats in the coming weeks, and a slate of candidates will be announced 30 days in advance of the May 2nd elections. If you’re interested in running for the BNA board of directors, please contact board@baysideportland.org

Bayside Garden Gets Updated Beds

This fall, the Bayside Community Garden welcomed a group of Baxter Academy students for a hands-on volunteer workday focused on replacing aging garden bed sideboards. Working alongside garden volunteers and members of the Bayside Neighborhood Association, the students helped improve the garden’s infrastructure while learning about community care, collaboration, and stewardship of shared green spaces.

This project was made possible by a micro-grant from the City of Portland’s Office of Sustainability through its Sustainable Neighborhoods Mini-Grant program, with support from Sustainability Associate Karly Meyer. Funding from this program helped cover materials for the garden bed repairs, demonstrating how small, targeted investments can create lasting benefits for neighborhoods and the people who care for them.

Welcome our new Safe Streets Team Lead

Thanks to John Van Hoewyk for stepping up to the lead role in the BNA’s Safe Streets Team. John is a longtime Bayside resident and supporter of the Bayside Neighborhood Association.

John will be facilitating an exploratory meeting along with Jennifer Rogers of Midtown Community Policing and other neighborhood leaders to reconvene the team next week. Please contact safestreets@baysideportland.org if you’d like to join us. Details below.

Wednesday, January 14th, 1pm

in the Steve Hirshon Community Room at Unity Village, 24 Stone Street Portland

Everyone is welcome to attend and encouraged to speak their mind. We want to hear your struggles, your ideas, and your hopes for the future of Bayside. For more information reach out to safestreets@baysideportland.org

Here’s a news spot about the formation of the team last year:

Here’s a report put together for the original safe streets team by Deborah Van Hoewyk:

Engaging BaysideDownload

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.