Boat Ramp and Parking Lot Closed in Milwaukie Bay Park on June 19 for Juneteenth Celebration

The Black community of Milwaukie is organizing its first Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 19 from 3 to 6 p.m. in Milwaukie Bay Park, 11211 SE McLoughlin Blvd. In preparation for the event that day, the parking lot is closed from 1 to 6 p.m. The boat ramp is also closed during this time.

Juneteenth commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States by marking the date—June 19, 1865—when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news the war had ended and those enslaved were declared free. The gathering in Milwaukie is an opportunity to celebrate, reflect and amplify the voices of the city’s Black community.

All community members are invited and welcome to attend the event. Those walking to and from the event are reminded to use crosswalks and obey pedestrian signals. Drivers are encouraged to use extra caution when traveling in the downtown area on the day of the event.

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day and Freedom Day, is the oldest nationally-celebrated holiday, honoring the freedom of enslaved people in the United States. On June 1, 2021, the Oregon Senate unanimously passed House Bill 2168, which will make Juneteenth an official state holiday in Oregon beginning in 2022.