South Park Blocks

The South Park Blocks are a wonderful fresh air excursion for Portland visitors. Within a short distance of all the major downtown hotels, a stroll through these beautiful blocks will remind you why Portland is well known as a center for arts and culture.

The South Park Blocks are a great way to walk through the history of Portland. Each block houses artwork or a statute provides perspective on a certain theme or bygone era.

When traveling to the Portland Art Museum or Schneitzer Concert Hall, you will see the South Park Blocks running along Park Avenue. Stretching for twelve blocks throughout downtown Portland, from SW Jackson Street near Portland State University to SW Salmon Street, they are easy to access from most areas in downtown Portland.

With monuments, statues, and artwork, the blocks can be a wonderful addition to your day exploring Portland. The park’s department has allowed the South Park Blocks to not only display art and monuments, but remain a "a cathedral of trees with a simple floor of grass."

‘Peace Plaza’ is one of the must-see blocks. Peace Chant is a work of art consisting of three granite pillars which the artist Steve Gillman was hoping would symbolize his goal of peace.

For the next two blocks north of Peace Plaza are statues of two former presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. Both blocks are named in honor of them, Roosevelt and Lincoln squares respectively.

Roosevelt Square not only has a prominent bronze statue of him, but also surrounding rose gardens.  With ample benches surrounding the statue, it is a spot that attracts a multitude of people, including downtown workers and people just waiting a scenic spot to enjoy their book.

Walking down the blocks, you can envision a time before the busy streets of downtown Portland were filled with cars. The area surrounding the park blocks was quite fashionable at turn of the century and comprised the center of Portland.

HelloPortland Tip: Make it a visit even on rainy days. The tree canopy catches all but the heaviest rainfall, leaving you dry and able to enjoy the blocks with a smile.

- 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.