North Park Blocks

Take a stroll through these tree-lined blocks to get a feel for what old time Portland felt like. Before the automobile and other modern inventions, city residents took leisurely walks up and down this promenade. While it has less public art than the South Park Blocks, this park makes up for it with towering trees and a convenient location, especially if you are visiting the Pearl District.

Located between Glisan and Ankeny Streets just north of downtown, the North Park Blocks are a perfect stop when exploring the city. Located near the train station, it is a scenic spot to grab a bite to eat before your train or bus ride home.

If you have kids with you, the park has a playground, which is fun and safe. The park can be busy during the weekday lunch hour and on weekends, but its size means there is always space to spread out and enjoy the Portland weather.

One of the dominant features of the park is the tall trees. Consisting of Maple trees, Elms, and Locusts, they form a nice canopy to keep you dry during Portland’s rainy months.

The North Park Blocks may be less culturally significant than the South Park Blocks, but it still features a number of great pieces of art. The most recognizable is at the park’s south entrance. This elephant statue is actually a replica of a wine pitcher from the Shang Dynasty. Much larger than the original pitcher, this statue is great reminder of why Portland’s parks are so well-known. Da Tung & Xi'an Bao Bao is a bronze statute and features a “young elephant standing peacefully on his father's back symbolizing safe and prosperous offspring.”

These blocks are a vestige of an earlier era in Portland’s history and provide a comfortable chance to relax underneath its canopy. Interestingly enough, the North Park Blocks were originally planned to connect with the South Park Blocks to form one large city park. However, legal battles ensued and now they form two distinct, but equally beautiful parts of downtown Portland.

HelloPortland Tip: Want to see more art? The first Thursday of each month is the art walk and the surrounding Pearl District offers many visual delights after visiting this park.

- 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.