☀️ Your guide to June in Portland

Hillsboro Considers a Pause on Data Centers

Already data centers occupy 400 acres of land in Hillsboro. And tonight, the City Council is taking up the issue of their impact and considering a possible moratorium. No vote will be taken today, but if it’s ultimately approved, Hillsboro would be the first Oregon city to enact a ban on constructing new data centers. [Oregonian]

Oregon Vaccine Rates Decline

A growing number of Oregon families opted their kindergartener out of required vaccines, new data show. This school year, 10.9% kindergartners have a nonmedical exemption from at least one vaccine — up from 9.7% the previous year (and a spike from 6.9% five years ago). These figures do not include children with severe allergies, illnesses, or other medical reasons to forgo vaccines. [Oregon Capitol Chronicle]

Portland Fire Is Sparking New Fans

It’s not a surprise, given the city’s devotion to women’s sports. But the Portland Fire, our new WNBA team, has set new records for attendance in the league, and is even attracting first-time sports fans — including Portland Monthly’s Rebecca Jacobson. [Portland Monthly]

• 🎟️ The next home game is Friday: Portland Fire vs. Phoenix Mercury.

The sun is out. The weather is warm. To remind you of the obvious, a Portland summer is best spent outdoors:

🚲 Go Biking

Bike Summer (also known around town as Pedalpalooza) kicked off last night. And for the next few months there are bike rides on every imaginable theme — including, no doubt, your favorite hobby or interest.

City Cast Portland contributor Alex Frane has a couple picks:

• 🐈‍⬛ June 17: Cat Ride. It’s the seventh-annual version of this ride. People wear cat paraphernalia, stop along the way to schmooze with kitties, and (yes) bring along their own pets.
• 🎵 June 20: LCD Soundsystem and Daft Punk Rides. Two classic Pedalpalooza rides meet up for a dance-off.

City Cast Portland will also be co-sponsoring a ride this summer: Come join us for the Sidewalk Joy Ride on June 29, which is a tour of some of the city's most delightful little free libraries filled with puzzles, art, and poetry, instead of books.

• 🎧 A related podcast: Mapping the city’s most delightful sidewalk attractions [City Cast Portland]

🚲 Go Swimming

If you haven’t ever been swimming in the Willamette River, maybe you want some company going for a first dip. Human Access Project holds swim parties at Audrey McCall Beach on Tuesday and Fridays. The first Slashdown of summer is June 26. You don’t even have to actually swim: There’ll be food and music, too.

Plus: As you may have caught in a recent newsletter, there’s a new sculpture in St. Johns. And, on Saturday, June 20, there will be an official block party to reveal Willie the River Dragon to the rest of Portland.

🌲 Enjoy Our Parks

There are, of course, the traditional ways to enjoy parks. You can go for a hike. And we have a couple tips on that:

• 🗺️ If you’re looking for the best trails and backcountry maps, you may want to check out the Goat Map app.
• 🅿️ Also: This Saturday there’s free parking at state parks.

But summer means a whole range of activities in parks:

• 🎵 Check out some music, like Modular on the Spot on June 7 at Overlook Park, which is features live performances of synthesizer music. (And don’t forget about our summer music festivals 🎧)
• 😆 Comedy in the Park starts its season in Laurelhurst Park this Friday.
• 🌳 Or check out the events calendars at Oregon State Parks, Metro, and Portland Parks for more options.

Plus, don’t forget to eat some fresh Oregon strawberries! 🍓