River Street

River Street Project Update
Check back here often to see the latest progress on the River Street project!



There has been some progress made towards a complete re-build of South River Street a project that will cover two biennia. First the Newberg Urban Renewal Agency (NURA) has accepted the recommendation from their Community Advisory Committee that two sections of River Street would make great candidates for early NURA public improvements. An intergovernmental agreement (IGA) has been formed between NURA and the City to agree a bond that would be serviced by NURA tax increment funds. The engineering department has started scoping preliminary design options - but actual design and construction work will need to wait until the item comes before our city council for a motion to proceed. 

On March 9th 2026 there was an initial listening session with many residents living on River street. After hearing residents concerns the City Council decided to create an Ad Hoc Committee on River Street to hear more ideas and review design options. The Ad-Hoc committee has since convened four times in 2026 (5/12, 6/25, 7/16, and 8/18). These forums collectively raised or amended the following questions, comments and remarks:

1. Will the 1^st Street / River Street intersection be improved?  Several cited concerns regarding the bicyclists / vehicular movements at this intersection. This will need to be part of the design work and care will be taken to mitigate possible impacts. It has been noted that the transition between 1st street and 4th will need to be handled with care.
2. Will trees be removed?  If so, will they be replaced? Several cited that the trees are what gives River Street its character and why they wanted to live there in the first place. Yes, many of the trees will need to be removed to carry out any rebuild option. The City of Newberg will work with residents to re-establish a tree canopy after the construction is completed. The city would like to thank the Ad-Hoc committee for being fully engaged in the process of developing a tree plan. Via the Ad-Hoc process option four emerged as the one with the best chance of preserving some of the existing trees. Update 9/25/2026: The most recent River Street Ad-Hoc committee meetings have selected a tree plan and work continues on this aspect. See documents below.
3. Comment that strong consideration needs to be given by City regarding "apparent" yard takes, with the understanding that many residents have landscaped, fenced, or have driveways that extend into the city ROW. Design work will need to do its best to minimize these impacts. Via the Ad-Hoc process option four emerged as the tightest cross section and the one most likely to minimize impacts as that cross section will mostly fit within the existing width of the street.
   
   Update 9/25/2026: Via the work of the Ad-Hoc committee the city has committed to a 58' width in option 4. During design work the city will do everything possible to keep to this width. 
4. Comments that a few people don't want to see bike lanes on River Street, not really a "Newberg" thing. State law requires bicycle improvements for this class of street, and it will benefit the future river front district and recreation possibilities. the Ad Hoc committee as of 6/25/2026 seems to be coalescing around the concept that a complete street with something for all modes of transport. Update 9/25/2026: In later Ad-Hoc committee meetings option four was selected as the all-round best option for the street and wider community and for multi-modal transportation.
5. Several comments related to the existing trees, their condition, and the feel they give the area. Staff  noted that many are end of life trees and that repairs cannot occur without some tree removal. In August of 2026 one of the trees had to be removed due to advanced rot and dropping limbs.
6. If the road is the same width, how much green space beyond existing sidewalks will actually be taken? Staff noted this this will vary based upon the exact location, however, the emergent option four would fit inside the existing street width in most places and would have the best chance of minimizing impacts. See updates above.
7. At the 6/25/2026 Ad Hoc meeting there was a general consensus that the new option four seemed to be best overall. Committee members also seemed by consensus to desire below grade water vaults versus bio-swale installations. After these concepts were formalized by motions and unanimous votes in the Ad-Hoc committee the concepts have been added to the scope of work for the project.

During the first Ad-Hoc meeting committee member Jim Talt proposed a fourth alternative to the three that had been suggested before. This fhas been approved by the Ad-Hoc committee as having the advantages of providing a chance to save some trees and also a narrower cross section that would limit encroachments into front yards. Design alternatives one through three have therefore been archived. Following council review on September 21st this 4th option has been moved and accepted as the basis for the future design of River Street.

The Ad-Hoc committee has carefully curated a tree plan as part of the process around option 4. In request for proposal documents option 4 is now referred to as the Newberg River Street Design Concept

Here is a preliminary image of the cross section suggested by this Ad-Hoc and City Council approved option:



At the Ad Hoc meeting on 6/25/2026 Mr. Talt presented some concepts for street design features that could add distinction and flair to the street.
Note these sorts of features are included just to spark curiosity and interest around ways to make the final street design unique and attractive:


The City of Newberg continues to receive comment on River Street and all of the feedback has been folded into the upcoming request for design proposals (RFP) process. As design work begins a more granular image of the wonderful possibilities for River Street will begin to come into focus! 

Newberg River Street Design Concept - Key Documents

Cross section with Trees

Large Roll Plot

Possible Raised intersections

The NURA plan for urban redevelopment

V5 - Revised - River Street Tree Program (Draft)


Master Planning Documents (any River Street Cross sections in these strategic plans will not be used)
Newberg Transportation System Plan Vol1

Newberg Transportation System Plan Vol2

River Front Master Plan Addendum Volume 1

River Front Master Plan Addendum Volume 2