Portland Beautification Association records, 1951-1986

The Portland Beautification Association was formed in 1960 at the suggestion of the Visitor Services Committee of the Portland, Oregon, Chamber of Commerce. In May of that year, Portland Mayor Terry Schrunk called a meeting of civic organizations and those concerned with developing a long-range plan for civic beautification. The mission of the organization was "to encourage all interested organizations in the area to undertake and coordinate such projects that will contribute to the general beauty of the area and to propose certain imporant undertakings to the Association; and to lend support to individual organizations in their efforts to advance the beauty of the community." The organization coordinated activities such as tree planting, design of signs and street furniture, waterfront beautification, preservation of the Pittock Mansion, and presentation of awards. The association was involved in many Portland projects, including the development of the downtown transit mall and the construction of Pioneer Courthouse Square.