Our Story: A Journey and a Hiatus

The Washington Park and Zoo Railway opened in 1958 and provided riders with a magical 20-minute journey through Washington Park, linking the Oregon Zoo to the International Rose Test Gardens. In 2013, the Rose Garden Loop took a hiatus during renovations and repairs. A shorter line reopened in 2014, but the Rose Garden Loop has now been silent for more than a decade.

Our Vision: A Joyful Return

It’s simple: we want to restore the full route of the Washington Park and Zoo Railway and bring this beloved experience back to the community.

The railway has historically been a strong contributor to the Zoo’s operations, generating more in annual revenue than it cost to run.

In 2020, the Washington Park and Zoo Railway was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its cultural and historical significance.

With strong and growing community support—including the momentum from this petition—on February 3, 2026, the Metro Council gave a thumbs up to work with the City of Portland and the Friends of the Washington Park and Zoo Railway to move into the next phase: an updated geotechnical study and feasibility analysis.

There is more work ahead, and we look forward to sharing updates as this process moves forward.

How You Can Help

Sign the petition—a simple act that can be the turning point. Your signature is a step towards restoring the Washington Park and Zoo Railway.

Make a donation on our website, FWPZR.org

Sign up for updates or volunteer at FWPZR.org.

Follow us on Instagram and "like" us on our Facebook and give us a follow.  Your support and engagement matters! 

Donations made on Change.org support their platform, not our project.

If you would like to support our work more directly, you can make a contribution through our website. 
🚂 Donate Now  Your support helps us continue the work needed to move the project forward in partnership with the City and Metro.