Considered as the greenest city in America, Portland provides a livable, green space for its population of just more than one half million. More than 30 years ago, while other cities were in a freeway-building frenzy, Portland was tearing down a six-lane expressway to make room for a waterfront park. Since then the city has protected 25 million acres of forest and farmland, started a solid-waste program that recycles more than half of the city’s trash and erected more than 50 public buildings that meet tough standards set by the United States Green Building Council.
