Where's a good place for a paper airplane contest? (Portland Oregon)

February 1, 2014 3:58 PM

I'm looking for an awesome spot for a paper airplane contest near Portland Oregon. I work as an engineer and my goal is to do this as a "team activity" at work. Who knows - if there's a good spot, maybe an IRL event too?

Goals:

• Safety: Don't want to hit unsuspecting strangers.
• Minimal wind: Probably indoors. A sheltered outdoor space might work.
• Cleanup: Need to be able to collect all planes afterward.
• Elevated launch platform: So the planes go farther!
• Low cost: Less than $500
• Location: 30min drive near Portland/Hillsboro, Oregon USA (but feel free to mention awesome spots elsewhere for others to try out)

I had some thoughts, but they all had drawbacks:

• Balcony at the Oregon Convention Center (or Schnitz) would seem ideal, but I'm assuming it would cost a lot to rent.
• Maybe Jeld-Wen Field (aka PGE Park) - but probably costly and windy.
• Pioneer Place (or other) Mall atrium - but don't want to hit/injure unsuspecting shoppers.
• Most any parking garage - but might hit people and windy.
• Off a bridge - but littering.
• Off the top end of the OHSU tram - but windy and litter.
• University auditorium??
• Maybe just a big empty-ish industrial building?

Basically looking for a large indoor space that's not too expensive to rent out...

posted by sarah_pdx to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (7 answers total)

There's a stage and a big field in front of it at the Zoo. They do concerts there sometimes, but you might be able to get permission to use it for your thing.

Of course, everyone would have to pay admission, but it isn't all that expensive.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:33 PM on February 1, 2014

I would suggest talking to Beam Development. They are the folks involved in renovating/leasing most of the Inner East near the Willamette. I would bet they have some large interior warehouse spaces that would be perfect and if you pitch it right they might let you do it for some shared PR.

Think a Portland Paper Flugtag and see if you can get Red Bull interested.
posted by Johnny Hazard at 4:53 PM on February 1, 2014

The Bike Farm is in a warehouse near the Rose Quarter now. I volunteer for them and I know they could use the money. There is a ~6' ledge that runs all the way along the length and width of the entire space. And I'm sure we could figure out something within your price range.

If you're interested, let me know and I'll run it past everyone!
posted by aniola at 5:03 PM on February 1, 2014

OMSI
posted by at at 10:11 PM on February 1, 2014

Montgomery Park has a huge open interior. It's open to the public and they do events and meetings up there all the time.
posted by fiercekitten at 11:26 PM on February 1, 2014 [1 favorite]

Montgomery Park would be great - bright, light-filled interior. I was going to suggest the roller rink at Mt Scott. It's a fairly perfunctory space but you can rent it for parties; though, there's no elevated area. I wonder if the Oaks Bottom rink is rentable? If so, they may allow people up to the DJ booth for launching. Plus, roller skating!
posted by amanda at 7:15 AM on February 2, 2014

You can rent out the Oaks Rink on Mondays. Not sure the DJ booth is really high enough.

A church or college would have good spaces for this. My kid fid a paper airplane thing at summer camp at UofPortland.

Bleachers at a high school?
posted by vespabelle at 10:14 AM on February 2, 2014