Human Access Project

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Human Access Project (HAP) is a Portland nonprofit that aims to transform how people relate to and use the Willamette River. Its mission is to help Portland love and enjoy its river, with safer access and better water quality for swimming and recreation.

Founded in 2010 by Willie Levenson, who calls himself the Ringleader, HAP pushes for more opportunities to swim and play in the river. The group has created several public river access points, supported big community events, and worked with partners to improve water quality and safety.

Key highlights

Access points, beaches, and docks
- Poet’s Beach opened in 2017 as the city’s first officially recognized public swimming beach in almost a century.
- Audrey McCall Beach opened in 2019.
- Kevin Duckworth Memorial Dock was changed to non-motorized use in 2020, adding eight swimming ladders and bicycle parking.
- Tom McCall Bowl Beach became an official city beach in 2012, with ongoing signage improvements and yearly cleanup efforts under the “Unrock the Bowl” initiative.
- In 2022, Portland designated six safer swimming areas on the Willamette, including the beaches and docks connected to HAP’s work.

Programs and events
- River Hugger Swim Team started in 2012 as an open-water “recreational protest swim” to draw attention to the lack of river edge access.
- The Big Float began in 2011 and drew tens of thousands of participants over its run; the last event drew around 5,000 people.
- Mayoral Swim began in 2016 with Mayor Ted Wheeler to show the river’s safety for swimming.
- Valentine’s Dip began in 2018 to demonstrate improvements in water quality; a 2020 dip drew about 100 participants and later partnered with the Polar Plunge in 2022.
- A 2017 solar eclipse viewing event used inner tubes to celebrate the river.

Environmental and safety work
- HAP has worked to reduce harmful cyanobacterial blooms in Ross Island Lagoon with Oregon State University.
- In 2021 and 2023, volunteers removed large amounts of concrete and rock from Cathedral Park’s river edge—25 tons in 2021 and about 100 tons in 2023.
- The organization helped promote safer water practices and track water quality improvements, including a period with no combined sewer overflows (CSOs) after large watershed improvements.

Infrastructure and design
- The Fire House Dock (Portland Fire and Rescue Station 21) was given a swim ladder and became a launching point for river activities.
- HAP collaborated on concepts for a park and ramp design related to the Burnside Bridge replacement, including a study funded by the city to assess costs and feasibility.

Recognition, funding, and partnerships
- HAP set a Guinness World Record in 2013 for the longest line of swim rings, with 620 participants.
- In 2023, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley supported $100,000 in funding for Ross Island Lagoon cyanobacteria bloom research.
- The group has partnered with landscape firms, Portland Parks & Recreation, GreenWorks PC, Green Anchors, and Oregon State University, among others, to advance river access and safety.

Leadership and culture
- Willie Levenson remains the central figure and advocate behind HAP’s efforts, driving activism, events, and outreach to promote a city that loves and safely uses the Willamette River.

HAP continues to work with volunteers, government partners, and local organizations to expand safe places to swim, improve water quality, and citywide awareness of the Willamette River’s value.