We are thrilled to announce the opening of Pal's, Hayden Island on August 18 at Tomahawk Bay . Restaurateurs Donald Kenny, Brandon Bowden, and Sean Hoard (Suttle Lodge, Spirit of 77, and Teardrop Lounge, among others) will be dishing up casual Northwest cuisine, cocktails, coffee, soft serve, and more. Pal's will also have a small grocery store, where you can pickup cooking essentials, beer, wine, produce etc. Check out the features in The Oregonian, Eater Portland, and KOIN 6.A New Arboretum for All In addition, we have opened the Tomahawk Bay Arboretum to all Columbia Crossings tenants and boaters. Our meadows feature an outstanding collection of native west coast flowers, shrubs, and trees. This collection includes “the oaks of the west coast,” which consists of 25 unique oak species, a hyper-diverse “crevice garden”, Adirondack chairs for relaxing, and three gas fire pits. We kindly ask that you not bring outside food or beverages into the fence-enclosed area. Conceived by Pistils Landscape Design and Earth Ecology, we're proud of what our team has created. In the next 6 months, we will extend the trail and native meadow east, all the way to Ricky Point. Special thanks to architect Lorraine Guthrie, contractor Cameron Myers and team, Uncle Rick, the welders, and of course, our CC crew led by John Walker. We are also grateful for the spectacular work by Nick Lake, and our college/high school summer workers who have worked through the summer heat to get it done. Tomahawk Bay is a special place, and we want to fulfill its full potential as scenic Columbia River waterfront. Thanks for your patience throughout the construction, and we hope you enjoy Pal's and the new Tomahawk Bay! Artwork provided by ThereThereCo.
The Smile Boat Parade, which follows a two-mile smiling curve through the North Portland Harbor, is coming up on its third year. Bridget Bayer, Chair of the Bridgeton Neighborhood Association, and Ron Schmidt, former president of Waterfront Organizations of Oregon (WOOO) shared their thoughts about the parade's origins and its positive impact on the community. Smile Boat Parade Origins The idea for the Smile Boat Parade came from Bridget Bayer and other members of the North Portland Community when they saw a need to unite the two boating communities across the Columbia river channel, Hayden Island and the Bridgeton Neighborhood. During our conversation, Bridget reflected that during the parade's first year “we had a handful of boats and it was really fun.” “We kept it kind of on the down low, weren't really sure how it was going to go, and everybody loved it!” Since then, the parade has been gaining more traction and attendance. “This year there are over fifty boats already registered, and most of them will show up the day of,” Bridget remarked. North Waterfront Community Spotlight Ron Schmidt noted that “Very few people talk about Bridgeton, Hayden Island, HiNooN, and the North Portland Waterfront.” “We decided we're going to rename it: the North Waterfront. That's the main reason for the Smile Boat Parade, is to really shine a light on the best place to live, work, and recreate: the North Waterfront.” For Ron, the Smile parade is a vehicle for community recognition and unity, “We often look at each other across the river but we don't pay attention to each other and now we have something as a… community where we can all have fun together, wave and celebrate and just really enjoy this special place on earth that we get to call home.” Looking Forward for Portland With a lot of new development coming up along the waterfront, Portland is changing quickly. Bridget touched on the new construction surrounding the levies in Portland and the I-5 bridge renovation: “When these huge big mega-projects started getting talked about we're kind of like, ‘wait, we're just this little neighborhood we're gonna get like, run over’... we better have something cool going on here. So, this is a really great opportunity with all these infrastructures getting built right now, to make the North Waterfront be a big part of it so that it doesn't get just another road on it, it actually becomes part of it.” When asked about how the Smile parade can grow going forward, Ron spoke of looking towards future growth. “We just want to share what we have here, and share our love for this beautiful place with the rest of the world. “So today it might be Bridgeton road and Hayden Island and the city of Portland, but we know that this is going to grow. Like our Christmas ships, which really have national and international recognition, and we hope to do the same for this beautiful area that we have as well.” The Smile Boat Parade is this Saturday August 23rd, starting at 11am, but it is recommended to arrive early. If you want to get involved but don't have a boat there are four viewing locations including the Island Cafe, The Courtyard by Marriott North Portland, the North Portland Bike Path, the the I-5 Pedestrian Bridge. Come out and celebrate the North Waterfront community and all it has to offer!
A challenge and an opportunity When Portland-based landscape artist and plantsman Nick Lake founded Earth Ecology in 2016, his vision was clear: to create living sculptures that heal both people and the planet. What began as a personal journey, growing trees to supply material for his own sculptures, has since grown into a thriving business that integrates art, ecology, and restoration. In 2023, Earth Ecology was invited to join Columbia Crossings and design firm Pistil on a large-scale commercial landscape project along the Columbia River. For Lake, the project represented both a challenge and an opportunity: “It was our first commercial project,” he explained. “We’re excited to take the step to doing a bigger more public space like this.” Designing with ecology in mind The Columbia Crossings site presented unique challenges. Built on sandy ground, the restaurant’s expansive outdoor dining area required species that could thrive in harsh, fast-draining soil. Lake and his team selected an extensive palette of native plants, including oaks, manzanitas, and coastal shrubs, drawing from Oregon and California ecosystems. The design was inspired by meadows, chaparral, and alpine gardens, blending ecological function with artistic form. Lake incorporated rare oak species from his personal collections, transforming the space into what he calls “an ex-situ conservation project,” a living arboretum nestled within a commercial development. Collaboration played a key role in the project’s success. Pistil provided the initial design framework, while Earth Ecology adapted the planting palette to emphasize western natives. Working alongside Donald Kenney of Pal’s, who welcomed the ecological approach, the team created a landscape that is both restorative and visually striking. Beyond Aesthetic Beauty For Lake, landscapes are more than beautiful backdrops; they are ecological lifelines. “Every garden has that opportunity to be supporting the insects and animals,” he said, noting how oak trees serve as keystone species for caterpillars, moths, and migratory birds. By including a wide diversity of species, Earth Ecology ensures resilience against pests and disease while creating habitat for wildlife. Lake sees each project as a chance to move away from traditional lawns, which he says have “very little habitat value,” and toward landscapes that balance sustainability and artistry. Gardens are “growing living sculptures," he explained. “That change over time, to get bigger and better as they grow in.” Looking Ahead The Columbia Crossings project is only the beginning. Earth Ecology will return this fall to expand the meadow plantings and introduce educational signage and plant tags, turning the site into a community resource as well as a dining destination. The team also has plans for coastal prairie restoration and residential gardens across the region. For Lake, the work is about more than business. It is a way of leaving a positive impact on the planet while offering people places of beauty and refuge. “It’s only going to get better with time,” he said of the Columbia Crossings project. And with Earth Ecology’s vision, so too will the landscapes they touch.
For more than two decades, Justin King has been a familiar face and steady presence in the Hayden Island community. Now, with a new café Navigator Coffee Co. and Hayden Island Boat Rentals on the island, Justin is combining his entrepreneurial experience with his lifelong love for the water to create something uniquely community-driven. "I’ve had my boats moored at one marina or another for the past many years," Justin shares. “When I decided to look for a brick-and-mortar for my rentals, it made sense that I would do it over here on this river…I’ve been around here for a long time.” From One Borrowed Boat to Island Boat Rentals The boat rental business grew organically. Years ago, a friend asked to borrow Justin’s personal boat, sparking an idea. He realized he could turn his passion for boating into access for others. Hayden Island Boat Rentals now lowers the barriers to getting on the water, especially for locals who face short seasons and high ownership costs. Hayden Island Boat Rentals is designed as a gateway to boating: simple booking, and straightforward rates, Justin keeps the fleet of pontoon boats intentionally approachable and well-maintained, drawing on years of hands-on tinkering to minimize surprises on the water. Why “Navigator”? When the opportunity arose to lease a space at a marina that was preparing to close, Justin seized the moment. While he hadn’t planned on it, the idea of opening a low-maintenance café made sense both logistically and personally. “I needed an office on land, but I wasn’t going to rent a whole building just for that,” he explains. “A café is universal… Everyone drinks coffee and smoothies.” That’s how Navigator Coffee Co. was born. “It’s called 'Navigator' because coffee and smoothies are how I navigate my day,” he says, with a smile. “Plus, it's nautical, it fits.” More than just a clever name, the café is designed to be a simple, accessible and ever-growing spot for both locals and visitors to gather. An Island on the Rise As much as these projects are about passion and lifestyle, they’re also about community impact. “A lot of people who live here…don't have a lot of boating under their belt because there's only a short bloating season” he explained “If I can make that more accessible and get people out on boats and experiencing the joy of being on the river, then that's cool.” To support that goal, Justin offers island resident discounts for both boat rentals and at the café. He’s also working with other local businesses to host events like raffles and community markets. “Cafés are community spaces,” he says. “I think the island could really use that.” Justin sees the revitalization of Hayden Island as a net positive. “The marinas have gotten cleaned up and maintained,” he observes. “I think the island's in a really good spot right now for growth and regrowth.”
