Swimming Toward Change: Portland’s River Renaissance

Portland’s Willamette River was once avoided—now it’s alive with swimmers, celebration, and joy. This episode uncovers the transformation behind that change.

In our first episode of The Bloom Loop Podcast, we dive into the inspiring story behind Portland’s growing love for swimming in the Willamette River. What began as a polluted and avoided waterway is now a place of celebration, community, and joy.

But this story isn’t just about swimming—it’s about culture change, river cleanup, and reclaiming public space. We talk with Willie Levenson of the Human Access Project, the movement’s spirited ringleader, about how civic engagement, creative vision, and persistence transformed not just the river, but Portland’s relationship with it.

Come for the river parties—stay for the story of transformation.

Find out more about Human Access Project at www.humanaccessproject.com