From a Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) announcement:

With the recent announcement that Block Party permits are free throughout Portland, PBOT is also pleased to add that it has doubled the free barricade lending area in 2018. This means more Portland neighborhoods will be celebrating in their streets this spring, summer and fall.

The original Pilot Project was launched in neighborhoods in East Portland with great success. Portland residents in these neighborhoods told PBOT that the free Block Party permit and free barricade checkouts made hosting a block party a breeze. Many said that they plan to make block parties a new tradition, having connected with their neighbors in new ways.

To keep this momentum going, PBOT has expanded the Pilot Area — now the Pink Barricade Lending Zone — adding 26 neighborhoods in Southwest, North, and East Portland<. The numbers on the map above are the community organizations that have partnered with PBOT for easy barricade check in/out.

Whether you’re a renter or homeowner, new to Portland, living in the Pilot Area or not, PBOT has made it easier for you to close your street to celebrate the return of sunny weather, connect with your neighbors, have a BBQ on your block, or create a safe space for kids to play.

National Night Out (NNO) is a fantastic opportunity to organize your own block party. From the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) information page on NNO:

National Night Out has been celebrated across North America on the first Tuesday of August since 1983. It’s a day when people hold parties to strengthen community cohesiveness and crime resistance, and get to know their neighbors and their local public safety officials. When neighbors get to know each other, they create a connected and safer community. Every year, more than 20,000 people in Portland participate. The Office of Neighborhood Involvement’s Crime Prevention Program has the responsibility for coordinating National Night Out (NNO) in Portland.

• Official date of NNO: Tuesday, August 7th, 2018. In Portland, residents and businesses may also hold a NNO party between Friday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 12th, 2018
• Registration is open from June 5th – July 24th, 2018

If your block is not hosting their own NNO block party, then join your neighbors at the Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association’s biggest party of the year! Please join us and gather with your neighbors. Listen and dance to live music by Foster’s Kids. Check out local businesses and community information tables. Free fun for all ages! You can find more information at our Facebook event. If you would like to volunteer to help with the event (passing out fliers, selling raffle tickets, etc.), please contact Aron Goffin.