Couch Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Couch Park |
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The Northeast corner of Couch Park.
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Portland, Oregon |
| Area | 2.39 acres (0.97 ha) |
| Operated by | Portland Parks & Recreation |
| Open | 5 a.m. to midnight daily |
| Status | open |
Couch Park is a cool city park in Portland, Oregon. You can find it where Northwest 19th Avenue and Glisan Street meet. The park is named after a well-known merchant, John H. Couch. It became a city park in 1977. It's also right next to the Metropolitan Learning Center, which is a public school for all grades.
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Park History: How Couch Park Began
Couch Park is named after Captain John H. Couch. He was an important person in Portland's early days. Captain Couch sailed to Portland from Massachusetts way back in 1839.
He owned and developed a lot of land in Portland. This land stretched from the Willamette River all the way to what is now Northwest 23rd Avenue. As he developed the land, he named the city blocks in alphabetical order. This is how the famous Alphabet District got its name!
From Estate to Playground: The Park's Early Days
The spot where Couch Park is now was once a large estate. It belonged to a merchant named Cicero Hunt Lewis in the 1800s. He was married to Captain Couch's daughter, Clementine. His estate had a big mansion, stables, and a greenhouse, all built in 1881.
Later, in 1913, the Portland School District bought the property. They built a school there and named it Couch School. This new school replaced an older one. The land that is now Couch Park was actually the school's playground back then.
A Community Dream: The Captain Brown House
In 1970, an old house built in 1890, known as Captain John Brown's house, was moved to a corner of the school site. This was done to save it from being torn down. Local residents even donated money. They hoped to turn the house into a community center for older people and offer medical services.
However, the project needed more money than they could raise. Because of this, the plan for the community center didn't work out. The building was later removed in 1973.
Couch Park Takes Shape: A Community Effort
In 1974, Couch School changed its name to the Metropolitan Learning Center (MLC). After this, only the park kept the name "Couch." Planning for the new park and its play area started in 1975. Students from MLC and people living nearby helped with the design.
In 1976, three cool art pieces were added to the park. These included a steel sculpture by David Cotter. There were also colorful tile mosaics by Jere Grimm. Finally, carved wooden pillars that support the playground were made by Brent Jenkins, Eric Jensen, and William Moore. The park officially became a city park in 1977.
Park Upgrades: Making it Better for Everyone
In 2010, the park got some great improvements. Money for these upgrades came from The Opus Foundation and a special fund approved by voters in 2002. The playground was made better for everyone, including those with disabilities. It also became safer, and a new fence was built.
Park Features: What You Can Do at Couch Park
Couch Park has many things to enjoy! You can play basketball on the court or let your dog run around in the special off-leash area. There are also paved paths for walking or biking. Kids can have fun on the playground, and public restrooms are available.
As of 2010, the park has over one hundred trees. These trees belong to many different types, like birch, cedar, elm, fir, maple, and pine. There are even various fruit trees! European white birch and English elm are the most common trees you'll see there. Couch Park was even mentioned in a book called A Bark in the Park. This book lists the best places to hike with your dog in the Portland area.
Images for kids
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Couch Park in March 2008.
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The former playground in 2008
