Salem Vision 2020

Visionary Award Recipient Named

   In the year 2020, the City Center is a vibrant, regional, year-round  destination for employees, visitors, and residents. The City Center is known for its historic and artistic character, and its unique and easy to find alley ways, plazas, and gathering places. A diverse array of shopping, dining, cultural activities, and entertainment attract people at all hours of the day.

   The Salem City Center is welcoming, visually appealing, and accessible for all ages. Pedestrian walkways, bicycle paths and streets connect the adjoining neighborhoods to and from the City Center, Willamette River, meandering waterways, parks, green spaces, trails, and play spaces.

   Served by high-quality and reliable transportation, the City Center is its own distinct neighborhood and a safe home to people of all income levels.


Imagine Salem’s historic City Center enhanced - into a revitalized, welcoming,  and vibrant community gathering place, a magnet for visitors, where unique, distinctive establishments are waiting to be discovered.

Imagine a City Center that bustles from morning to night, with a diverse array of special places to shop, live, work, and enjoy entertainment.

Now, that vision is ready to come to life!

What is Vision 2020?
A community-wide process that will help shape the future of Salem’s City Center.

How did it Begin?
Beginning in the summer of 2007, a group of Salem’s large City Center employers began discussing the future of the heart of the City- downtown, north downtown, and the Edgewater/Wallace area of West Salem.

Together, the Team considered the diversity of uses in the core area, employment centers, housing, recreation opportunities, transit, vehicular and pedestrian circulation, and parking. The Team also heard from more than 3500 Salem residents, employees, and visitors, who offered ideas to help create a new vision for Salem’s City Center.

Who is Involved?
Referred to as the “Vision 2020 Action Team,” many of these organizations are playing a lead or supporting role in implementing the projects the community has asked for. The Team includes representatives from the State of Oregon, Marion County, Willamette University, Go Downtown Salem!, Salem-Keizer School District, West Salem Redevelopment Advisory Board, the Chamber of Commerce, Travel Salem, Chemeketa Community Collage, Salem-Keizer Transit, the Salem Hospital, General Growth Properties, YMCA, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Council, Salem Art Smart, the Zeek Gallery. The Team is chaired by Salem’s Mayor and co-chaired by Jim Bauer, of Willamette University. Councilors Tesler and Rogers are also members of the Team.

Vision 2020 Action Plan:
24 Projects; 5 Themes

Create Places for People to Live and Gather:

Develop a town square to serve as City Center focal point and central gathering place as envisioned by the community.

Preserve and Enhance the Look and Feel:

As evidenced by input from Salem Vision 2020 participants, Salem residents feel strongly about the historic features of the City Center which create Salem’s distinct look and feel.

Create a Vibrant Destination:

Throughout Salem Vision 2020, Salem residents, employees and visitors have said that they would enjoy more opportunities to share a meal or sip wine or coffee with friends at an outside table.

Expand Options to Get About City Center:

Survey respondents said that maintaining adequate parking resources in the City is important to maintaining access for residents, visitors, and employees. A vibrant City Center will balance vehicle access and parking with frequent, reliable transit service, bike, and pedestrian nodes.

Improve Connections to Parks, Creeks, and River:

Salem’s City Center is located along the banks of the Willamette River and Pringle Creek. Mill Creek and Mill Race meander through downtown on their way to the Willamette River.