Portsmouth Neighborhood Association

What is the Portsmouth Neighborhood Association?

Portsmouth is a neighborhood on the North Portland peninsula. Its boundaries are the railroad cut on the west, Lombard on the south, Chautauqua on the east and Columbia Boulevard on the north.

The Portsmouth Neighborhood Association is one of the 95 officially recognized neighborhood associations in Portland. Neighborhood associations are a powerful resource that draws together a diversity of people who are concerned with issues affecting the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Participation is voluntary and open to all residents who live, own property or a business, organization, church or government agency within its boundaries. We are governed by our bylaws.

What is our motto?

Empowering our Community and Empowered BY our Community

We also like to say, "Empowered BY our Community" but haven't been able to change our logo. :) What does it mean to empower our community? It means that we understand that our neighborhood is unique and the people in it come from a wide variety of cultures, life experiences, socioeconomic means, and personal identities—and bring those as strengths to the issues facing us all. We appreciate and celebrate this fact. Every neighbor has a voice and their own values around what is important. We want to hear it! We strive to be a neighborhood association that is useful and available to our neighbors to come together. We are a group of volunteers who want to connect with our neighbors, be a resource, impact local decisions and developments, support common goals, and maintain our neighborhood.

Why a neighborhood association?

Historically and currently, there are certain privileges that come with being in a neighborhood association. For example, neighborhood associations get a seat at certain organizational tables and can have some fees waived. Portsmouth is a neighborhood rich with diversity. As a neighborhood association, we want to work to reflect that diversity and invite all voices to the table. The privileges afforded to neighborhood associations were designed to give voice to the neighborhood and power to the people. But if the association is not actually representative of the neighborhood, it doesn’t work as it should. Portsmouth Neighborhood Association has a mission to be a resource and voice for our neighborhood and ALL of its inhabitants.

What can I do?

Empowering our Community and Empowered BY our Community

A neighborhood association is what the community makes it. If there are issues or projects that you would like to work on with your neighbors, let's see if we can work on it together. Come to a monthly social or attend an online meeting.

Past and recurring projects that that community members have worked through the neighborhood association have included but not been limited to: low/no cost bulk waste Dumpster Days; advocating for Columbia Pool and north Portland aquatics access; slowing traffic on Portsmouth Ave.; abating the impact of abandoned nuisance properties; block parties; and regular social get-togethers.

We welcome our neighbors to join us regardless of race, religion, national origin, immigration status, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any of the experiences and identities that enrich our diverse community.

For more information on how to get involved, contact us!