Jamison Square

Jamison Square is an award-winning park that provides a nice escape from the busy atmosphere of shopping and eateries in the Pearl District. This urban park has plenty of space to lounge on the grass, put your feet in their elegant wading pool or just relax on one of the square's many benches.

Despite being in the notoriously rainy Pacific Northwest, Portland has its fair share of hot summer days. With the mercury known to reach higher than 100 degrees in July, beat the heat on the rocks of this park's wading pool.

The park can be very busy, especially in late spring and summer. As the sun peaks out, people flock to this park with their kids and dogs. However, there is still plenty of space to find a nice spot to lay out a blanket and bask in the sunlight. You will also see many kids playing the wading pool, which was created to simulate a tidal pool. With water falling down over the rocks, the pool is a nice example of functional, modern design.

Unlike other city parks, Jamison Square is a recent addition and was specifically designed to reflect the modern aesthetic of the surrounding Pearl District.

Jamison Square is named after William Jamieson who helped to turn the hard-working River District into the culturally rich Pearl District of today’s Portland. The Portland Park Department attributed this to “his personal magnetism, in addition to the size and scope of his art gallery, drew many people into the Pearl District.”

The park features two main art pieces. One is a sculpture of a bear which is meant to symbolize the bears who once roamed in the Pacific Northwest and the more abstract Contact II. This red metal sculpture makes an impression when contrasted with the green grass and sandy stones of the wading pool.

Jamison Square is a wonderful stop and gives perspective on how Portland is utilizing green space to perfect their plan of urban development. With a little something for everyone, Jamieson Square is the Pearl District’s center for relaxation.

HelloPortland Tip: Want to have an impromptu picnic? There are plenty of choices nearby including Laughing Planet, Hot Lips Pizza, and the locals' favorite Lovejoy Bakers. 

- by William Crane, Portland Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

William Crane

William Crane is an accomplished print and online journalist (http://www.william-crane.com) His work covers a variety of topics including features, local community news, sports, music, and political/social issues. Graduating from Seattle University with a B.A. in Journalism, William's writing has appeared in a variety of different publications including the Stranger, Capitol Hill Times, the Skanner, Backfire Magazine, and the Internationalist.