Silverton is a town filled with individuals dedicated to making the community a better place for everyone. What sets it apart is its deep sense of community and a shared commitment to creating a safe, livable, and inviting environment for generations to come. Silvertonians genuinely love their town, and that love is reflected in their willingness to come together to tackle challenges and pursue opportunities. Whether it's building playgrounds-for-all, organizing beloved community events like Homer Davenport Days or the Sidewalk Shindig, or actively participating in local government, Silverton residents take pride in contributing to the well-being of their town.
Beyond its people, Silverton is known for its picturesque landscapes—from the stunning waterfalls of Silver Falls State Park, to The Oregon Garden, to the creek that weaves through the heart of town. The historic charm of downtown, with its well-preserved buildings and thriving local businesses, adds to Silverton’s character. The town’s storied mural program, featuring over 30 works of public art, reflects Silverton’s rich history and creative spirit, making it a place where the past and future come together.
What sets Silverton apart is not just its beauty, history, or culture, but its people—those who love their town and are dedicated to making it better for everyone. Their passion, combined with Silverton’s natural charm and can-do spirit, ensures that the community remains strong, welcoming, and ever-improving. It is this generational commitment to sustainability, creativity, and connection that makes Silverton truly special—and inspires ongoing efforts to strengthen and enhance it for the future.
Silverton is making it easier to build the kinds of housing people want and need. By updating zoning laws, the city is fostering a more diverse housing stock that accommodates different budgets, lifestyles, and household sizes. These changes also lay the groundwork for mixed-use development, allowing homes, businesses, and public spaces to coexist in ways that support walkability and community life. By loosening restrictive rules, Silverton is creating a more adaptable, resilient housing market that can better respond to the needs of both current and future residents.
Silverton is taking meaningful steps to make its streets safer, more accessible, and more financially productive by prioritizing people over cars. Here are some examples:
1. Downtown Plaza & Main Street Improvements
The city is working on redeveloping Main Street and creating a new downtown plaza adjacent to the new City Hall. Proposed improvements on Main Street include widened sidewalks, safer crosswalks, and better lighting—design features that support local businesses by increasing foot traffic. The Downtown Plaza Park is designed to serve as the community's “living room” and central gathering space. It will host events such as the farmers’ market, community festivals, and live performances such as plays and concerts.
2. First Friday Open Streets
On the first Friday of each summer month, Silverton closes portions of its downtown streets to traffic, transforming them into pedestrian-friendly spaces where people can safely walk, shop, eat, and socialize. Seating for downtown restaurants overflows into the streets. Vendors set up pop-up shops. Bands play on a portable stage on the corner of First and Main. This initiative has strengthened the local economy by giving businesses increased visibility and customers more opportunities to explore downtown. With the influx of visitors downtown and the closed streets, one might think that parking would be a primary concern. However, those fears have proven unfounded. There is still plenty of parking in and around downtown and many people choose to walk or bike to and from the event.
3. Recent Street Improvement Projects
Silverton has undertaken multiple street improvement projects in the last several years designed to balance the needs of people on foot, on bikes, and in cars. One such project on McClaine Street introduced bike lanes, improved signage, traffic control devices, street trees, equal lane widths, ADA-compliant curb ramps, and a stormwater management system. The City of Silverton also initiated major upgrades on 2nd Street, in a neighborhood near an elementary school. This included adding travel and bike lanes in both directions. These improvements made it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate safely while balancing vehicle access.
The City is making strides to improve budget transparency and ensure long-term infrastructure liabilities are fully accounted for. A 14-member Budget Committee — including all seven members of the City Council and an equal number of appointed community members — reviews and revises the proposed budget and ensures it aligns with the City’s financial goals. The City complies with Oregon State Statutes for financial audits and regularly publishes financial reports. These reports include monthly financial statements and five-year financial forecasts, providing a clear picture of the city's financial health and long-term liabilities.
Silverton has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award Program by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) five times. GFOA established the Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program (Budget Awards Program) in 1984 to encourage and assist state and local governments to prepare budget documents of the very highest quality that reflect both the guidelines established by the National Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting and the GFOA's best practices on budgeting and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal. Budget documents must meet program criteria and excel as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and communication tool to earn recognition. The city aims to make informed financial decisions that benefit all residents by involving the community and adhering to state guidelines. These efforts demonstrate Silverton's commitment to rigorous accounting and transparency in its budgeting process.
In Silverton, the city has taken steps to address the issue of excessive surface parking and parking minimum mandates, beginning downtown. In recognition that downtown is Silverton's most compact and walkable area, off-street parking requirements are waived in the downtown commercial (DC) zoning district.
Silverton has removed parking mandates for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). In addition, any development may propose parking in amounts less than the minimum standard by submitting a parking demand analysis to the community development director for review and approval. The parking demand analysis is based on the proposed use and estimated parking demand based on the number of employees and customers/visitors who are likely to travel to the subject site by automobile, transit, bicycle, and foot. This process is outside the typical Variance process that requires applicants to show a hardship to development and has a threshold for approval based on actual parking demand.
The Silverton Rotary Club took the lead in creating safe, inclusive play spaces for children, recognizing the lack of accessible playgrounds. Mobilizing volunteers, securing donations, and partnering with local businesses, the Rotary Club built playgrounds featuring sensory-friendly equipment, wheelchair ramps, and adaptive structures.
Other groups, like Silver Creek Fellowship Church, joined the effort, fundraising to enhance accessibility and amenities. By leveraging volunteer labor and local donations, the projects were completed in a cost-effective manner, ensuring efficient use of resources.
Most importantly, this effort showcased how Silverton residents—including elected officials, business owners, and community members—united to address a local need swiftly and effectively. Their collaboration has left a lasting impact, creating safe spaces where children of all abilities can play together.
Silverton fosters strong communication between elected officials and residents through public meetings, neighborhood-based initiatives, and long-term planning efforts. The City Council meets twice a month, with opportunities for public comment, and encourages direct resident participation in city decisions. Residents serve on 10 advisory committees — from the Planning Commission and Budget Committee to task forces focused on affordable housing and updating the City’s comprehensive plan. They work closely with elected officials to address specific issues and provide recommendations. The city also encourages neighborhood-based groups, providing resources and guidance for residents to collaborate on shared concerns and shape local policies.
A standout example of community engagement is the Silverton 2050 Comprehensive Plan Update, a proactive initiative to prepare for projected growth while maintaining the town’s character. Through public surveys, workshops, and open forums, residents directly contribute to shaping the city’s future development, ensuring that infrastructure, housing, and economic policies align with local priorities. This process ensures that decisions reflect the needs of the community rather than being dictated solely by city leadership or outside interests.
These efforts reflect Silverton’s commitment to transparent governance and meaningful resident participation, ensuring that local decision-making is not just top-down but shaped by the people who live and work in the community.
Silverton is focused on maintaining and improving existing infrastructure rather than expanding roads, ensuring long-term financial sustainability. A prime example is the McClaine Street Improvements Project, where the city partnered with Keller Associates to reconstruct the roadway, upgrade utilities, and improve stormwater and sewer systems. This project enhances multi-modal accessibility and was recognized with state engineering awards for its cost-effective approach to infrastructure renewal.
To further extend the life of existing infrastructure, Silverton has implemented Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) slip lining technology to rehabilitate aging sewer lines without major excavation. This was a cost-effective and minimally disruptive solution to repair rather than replace critical infrastructure. Additionally, the Silverton Urban Renewal Agency has allocated funds for sidewalk repairs, pedestrian-friendly upgrades, and downtown revitalization efforts—investing in infrastructure that supports economic vibrancy without unnecessary road expansion.
