Address: 1900 Northwest Hoyt St
Pricing: Free
Phone: N/A
Hours: Daily: 5:00am-12:00am
How To Get There:
From downtown Portland:
1. Take the 1st left onto NW Couch St
2. Take the 1st right onto NW Broadway
3. Turn left at NW Glisan St
4. Turn right at NW 18th Ave
5. Take the 1st left onto NW Hoyt St
By public transit:
Take TriMet Route #17 from downtown Portland. Get off at NW Glisan and 19th.
Parking:Street parking is available
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Couch Park: Northwest Portland’s tucked-away secret
Jul 10, 2010
Nestled in the Alphabet District, Couch Park offers scenic views and a place to rest your feet. Take a breather from all the sights and sounds of the Rose City while still remaining close to everything. Couch Park has ample lawn space, park benches, and a playground. It is well suited for families and usually has a dog or two playing fetch.
The park is located between 19th Avenue and 20th Avenue in Northwest Portland between Glisan and Hoyt Street. The park’s namesake is Captain John Heard Couch, a local community leader. He is described by the Parks Department as being a “well-liked, civic-minded man, so it's only appropriate that one of Portland's beautiful parks be named in his honor.” In fact, Couch named the neighborhood streets in alphabetic order, creating the name of the neighborhood: the Alphabet District.
Couch Park is known for its relaxed vibe. With space for everyone, you will see people casually talking, reading, or just staring at the clouds. The grassy areas have a nice mix of sun and shade, perfectly suited for a weekend picnic.
Portland has a compact urban core and walking from one neighborhood to another is a great way to get a lay of the land. If you are visiting NW 23rd Avenue, walking downtown is easy and downhill. A good mid-way point is Couch Park. Grab a cup of coffee from one of the nearby shops and relax on one of the benches.
Another nice feature of Couch Park is the public art on display. Three art pieces are located around the park and include a steel sculpture, mosaic panels, and wooden pillars. Each of the pieces adds to the local flavor of this park.
Couch Park has an understated beauty which is why it is loved by both its Alphabet District residents and Portland visitors. Take a break from a day shopping or exploring the city to see why Portland is well known for its beautiful city parks.
HelloPortland Tip: Want to sound like a local? Pronounce Couch as coo-ch and not cow-ch, the place where we sit to watch TV.
- by William Crane, Portland Reporter for HelloMetro
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William CraneWilliam 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.
