Parks of the Pearl
Spring is here! Get outside and enjoy the beauty of the Pearl District’s greenspaces!
The flowers are blooming, and the sky is blue in Portland! We all hear about the benefits of getting out in nature, but did you know that in the Pearl District, nature is just a block or two away?
We’re fortunate enough to have some truly fantastic parks in the Pearl. Three of our parks, Jamison Square, Tanner Springs, and Fields Park, were designed as part of a city initiative back in 1999. Each has a distinct personality in Pearl, but a series of recurring elements tie the parks together with a cohesive design and theme. It’s the perfect time to enjoy a neighborhood park walk and soak up all the natural beauty Pearl District has to offer!
Jamison Square
The first of the three parks to be developed is Jamison Square, which combines green grass, flowing water, and a hub of activity in the summer. The fountain is especially popular with local children in the hottest months. Water flows over intricate steps to form a shallow wading pool, perfect for keeping cool. It is also the center of activity during the winter holidays, a gathering place for celebration around the illuminated holiday tree.
The park is named after Portland icon William Jamison of Jameson/Thomas Gallery, a man whose art gallery and personal charm drew many people into the Pearl District. Jamison was also a founder of Art/AIDS to support victims of the disease. In the late 1980s, he moved his gallery from an earlier location into the newly developing Pearl. A few years later, he helped create one of its best-known traditions - First Thursday.
Accolades
Jamison Square has earned its place among the best with the prestigious Urban Land Institute's J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development. This recognition is a testament to the park's innovative design by award-winning landscape architect PWP, and its contribution to urban development.
Tiki Totems
Around the edge of the park stand the four Tikitotemoniki Totems, also known as Tiki Totems, which were created by artist Kenny Scharf. These 30-foot pieces add a splash of fun and color to the park. The park is also home to the Rico Pasado, or Centennial Bear, a red granite sculpture by artist Mauricio Saldaña.
The PDNA’s newly formed Park Committee is developing a clean-up and activation plan for Jamison Square. Learn more on the PDNA website
Year Acquired: 2000
Size in Acres: 0.94
Location: 810 NW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209
Park hours: 5:00 a.m.– midnight
The park also features an accessible restroom.
Dogs are welcome but must be leashed in the park.
More information: https://www.portland.gov/parks/jamison-square
Tanner Springs Park
Tanner Springs, the second of the three-concept park system, is a unique tribute to the Pearl's natural ecology, offering a distinct experience to visitors.
The park sits on what was once Couch Lake and Tanner Creek, which still flows under the Pearl but is now assisted by pipes and other infrastructure. While the lake was drained and the creek was routed into the Willamette to allow for the construction of the Pearl, the creek was then rerouted back through the park as a tribute to the past, preserving the natural environment and mirroring the original wetlands. Designed by German design firm Atelier Dreiseitl and the local, award-winning landscape architecture company GreenWorks, P.C., Tanner Springs is a salute to the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest in the heart of the Pearl.
On any given day, the park is enjoyed by humans as well as a variety of insects and birds, including a heron or two, which may pass by on their way to the river.
The Artwall
On the park's east edge is the Artwall, an enormous piece comprising 368 railroad tracks and 99 pieces of fused glass. Each piece of glass is marked with the fauna found at Tanner Springs: frogs, dragonflies, spiders, insects, and other amphibians. Each image was hand-painted by Herbert Dreiseitl directly on glass manufactured in Portland. The effect is to fuse the industrial of the Pearl's past with the ecology of Tanner Creek's present.
Note: Dogs aren't permitted due to the delicate ecology and preservation of the park.
Year Acquired: 2003
Size in Acres: 0.92
Location: NW 10th Avenue & Marshall Street, Portland, OR 97209
Park hours: 5:00 a.m.–midnight
More information: https://www.portland.gov/parks/tanner-springs-park
Fields Neighborhood Park
Fields Park, uniquely positioned at the edge of the vibrant Pearl District, offers unparalleled vistas of the Freemont Bridge and the Pearl District from various perspectives. The park offers a stunning amphitheater-like green space loaded with amenities like a picnic area and playground for residents and visitors of all ages. It's also the only park on this list to feature an off-leash dog area! The park's paved paths provide year-round accessibility for walking.
Transformation
Fields Park, the newest addition among the Pearl's three urban parks, is a testament to sustainable development. The approximate 4-acre area was once a former brownfield and railway site. The park's design includes sustainable rain gardens and wetlands that help manage stormwater, layered with historic elements reflecting the gritty past of the site. It’s an exceptional example of a highly utilized urban green space and the transformative success of urban renewal. It is a popular destination for both Pearl District residents and visitors.
This complex project engaged the combined expertise of Portland's exceptional landscape designers and engineers; more information about the project and team can be found on the A/CB website.
Work in Progress
While two-thirds of Fields Park is closed due to work on a city maintenance project, the park still provides a gorgeous river view. You can learn more about the ongoing work on the park here.
Note: Fields Park is a Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Node (BEECN): a place to go in Portland after a major earthquake to ask for emergency assistance if phone service is down or severe damage or injury is reported. More information can be found on the BEECN page.
Year Acquired: 2010
Size in Acres: 3.35
Location: 1099 NW Overton Street, Portland, OR 97209
Park hours: 5:00 a.m.– midnight
North Park Blocks
One of the city's oldest parks, the North Park Blocks, was first dedicated in 1869 by Captain John H. Couch, even before Oregon officially became a state. The intent was that the North Park Blocks would be a continuation of the South Park Blocks, and the trees and design reflected the latter. This municipal park was a hub of activity for local families and included playgrounds for the children of the surrounding residents.
However, the park then fell into disuse after 1924, when a new zoning code no longer preserved neighboring residential housing. It’s had a series of revivals in the past many years, especially as the Pearl District became the dynamic and thriving mixed-use community it is today.
Events
The North Park Blocks border Old Town, Downtown, the Pearl District, and the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). It's a beautiful place to enjoy the shade provided by the massive maples and elms that grow along the park, some of which are original to the park's beginning. The parks host a number of events throughout the year, such as Art in the Pearl, one of Portland’s art shows, and local favorites like Bocci Ball tournaments.
Art Walk
Art lovers will appreciate the fabulous North Park Blocks installations, including Da Tung &: Xi'an Bao Bao, a large brass elephant with his son, and a smaller brass elephant on his back. Huo Baozhu, a Chinese businessman, made a gift of the statues to the city of Portland in 2002.
A fountain named Dog Bowl, created by the famed dog photographer William Wegman in 2005, pays tribute to philanthropist Simon Benson and his bubbling 1912 drinking fountains, which are placed throughout the city.
At PNCA, the furthest point on the park's north end sits Lee Kelly's 4,000-pound Cor-Ten steel sculpture, "Memory 99."
Year Acquired: 1869
Size in Acres: 3.11
Location: NW Park Avenue from Ankeny Street to Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97209
More information: https://northparkblocks.org/historical-information/
The Pearl District Portfolio takes Pride in our Tenants and Community!
We are committed to ensuring this mixed-use district continues to function as a vibrant center of art and culture, urban housing, and creativity. Through the adaptive reuse of our eight distinct buildings, we continue to honor the Pearl District's history while providing a range of spaces unique and unequaled in Portland.
The Pearl District Portfolio is proud to participate in the NW Community Conservancy's (NWCC) humanitarian and security initiative to enhance safety and livability for all who live, work, learn, and play in our neighborhood.
Explore Pearl District Portfolio’s website and blog for more information on the building, the history of the Pearl District, the community, and events. Sign up for the newsletter and follow us on social media @pearldistrictportfolio to stay in touch with local events and activities!