I'm visiting, rating, and ranking as many of Portland's 279 parks as I can. Check out the introduction and rubric. You can also check out the map and rankings here.
Date Visited: Monday, 3/28/2022
Visitors: Alex, Allison, Kita, Nana
Distance Walked: 1.00 miles
If you visit one park, this is certainly one you should consider on a trip to Portland, Oregon. The park stretches nearly a mile from north to south and is nestled right along the Downtown side of the Willamette River. The park was built on the site of a former freeway, but it still serves as a busy thoroughfare much of the year. Cars, however, have been replaced by pedestrians, bicyclists, and skateboarders.
The park is named after Oregon governor Tom McCall. During his career in the 1960s and 70s, he shaped a legacy that focused on environmentalism and public beautification. He created the task force that took out the freeway and replaced it with this park, passed the first bottle bill in the US (which required drink cans and bottles to be returnable for money), ensured Oregon beaches would remain publicly owned, and introduced an urban development boundary around the state’s cities.
But he’s also the guy that famously told people to come to visit Oregon, but don’t move here. In a CBS interview “Come visit us again and again. This is a state of excitement. But for heaven's sake, don't come here to live.”
Dog Friendliness: 4
The long paved sidewalks and views of the river make for a sweet place to take the dog for a walk, and you’ll find lots of leashed pups with their parents. According to the signage, all dogs are supposed to be leashed. But you’ll also have some dogs playing fetch and running along the wide and manicured lawns. I’ve never seen any authority there to enforce the leash rule, but dog owners should know that this is a busy place for bikes and skateboards, and this park is located along a busy downtown street (SW Naito Parkway).
And don’t forget to BYOP (bring your own poop bags), as there isn’t any kind of station for them in the park.
Kid Friendliness: 2.5
There are unique features in this park that many kids will find interesting, but none among them is a playground. On our visit in early spring, there were lots of kids there playing on the grass and kicking around cherry blossom bloom pedals. In warmer weather, you’ll find kids jumping wet in the Salmon Street Springs, a fountain of jets and water designed to be played in.
Walkability: 5
Wide, sweeping sidewalks keep the large volume of foot and bike traffic running smoothly. The walk is great for all ability levels. Expect to find tourists enjoying the views, locals exercising rigorously, and non-car commuters using the park to get in and out of Downtown Portland.
Scenery: 5
This is the best downtown park I’ve had the joy of visiting. It was built right on top of the west bank of the Willamette; a manmade embankment allows visitors to look straight down over the railing into the river. Standing on this site provides an unobstructed view of several of Portland’s famous bridges. West of the park are the tall buildings of downtown Portland, which provide a great of the city’s skyline.
The river and skyline view already catapult this park to the top of my favorites list. But this park is known for the massive cherry blossom bloom each spring. Dozens of trees are well-manicured and were planted in stunning parallel lines. It makes for a beautiful, yet cliche, photo op.
Facilities: 2.5
There are plenty of places to sit and structures to see. I was, however, under the impression that there weren’t any restroom facilities around. I didn’t see any in our one-mile walk, but maybe I missed something.
Overall Score: 19/25
Ranking as of posting: 2 (of 3)
What Portland park should we visit next?
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