Proud Mountain Way is the most prominent parkway in Pørtland and encircles the Central District of the city. It consists of four dedicated vehicular traffic lanes, multi-directional bicycle lanes and a centralized park that spans the entirety of the boulevard. The park is interrupted only by the Grand Concourse, the city’s main bazaar. The park in the center of the street spans 100m in width and contains some of the oldest trees in the city, being the original vegetation located in the area.
The Way was conceived of by the first Joint Council of the city as the rapidly expanding site of the city’s main area was threatening to overwhelm the natural areas and transportation through the area was difficult. It was the city’s first major unified construction project and took 22 years to complete, starting in 1623.