Pier Park (Portland, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pier Park |
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The park in 2010
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Area | 87.43 acres (35.38 ha) |
| Operated by | Portland Parks & Recreation Department |
| Status | Open 5 a.m. to midnight daily |
Pier Park is a fun and green city park in Portland, Oregon, United States. It's located in the North Portland area, specifically in the St. Johns neighborhood. The park is surrounded by North Columbia Boulevard and is famous for its beautiful evergreen trees. Pier Park, along with Kelley Point Park and Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area, helps keep a large part of North Portland natural and wild.
The park gets its name from a person named Pier, not because it has a pier (like a dock for boats).
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The Story of Pier Park
The land that became Pier Park was originally part of a large area claimed by James Loomis under the Donation Land Claim Act. This act allowed people to claim land in the Oregon Territory a long time ago. In 1921, the city of Portland officially named the park after Sylvester Charles Pier (1853–1935).
Who Was Sylvester Charles Pier?
Sylvester Charles Pier used to be a sales manager. He became a City Commissioner in 1919 and was in charge of Portland's parks for four years. His son, Stanhope S. Pier, later took over his role as commissioner and served two terms.
From Brickyard to Park
Before it was a park, a brick company operated nearby until 1905. They stopped making bricks when they ran out of clay. The empty brickyard became a playground for kids until 1920, when the old buildings were taken down. To create the park, which was once a wet, marshy area, more than 100 people who were looking for jobs helped clear the land. The wood from clearing the site was given to local families who needed fuel for their homes.
A Historic Day at the Park
On July 11, 1934, during a big strike by workers along the coast, local longshoremen (people who load and unload ships) blocked railroad tracks near their worksite. They wanted to stop new workers from coming in. There was a conflict, and some workers were injured. Bullets hit the park's trees, which helped protect the workers from more serious harm. This event is known as Bloody Wednesday and is still remembered by the local International Longshore Warehouse Union today.
Fun Things to Do at Pier Park
Pier Park has lots of cool things for everyone to enjoy!
Park Features
You can find a baseball field, a basketball court, and a soccer field. There are also tennis courts and restrooms. If you like picnics, there are picnic areas that are easy for everyone to access. The park also has a disc golf course, which is like golf but you throw a disc (like a frisbee) instead of hitting a ball. You can also walk or bike on the paved and unpaved paths. In 2007, the park's play structures were updated and new ones were added, making them even more fun!
Skatepark Fun
At the southwest end of the park, there's a concrete skatepark. It was first built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 2001. Later, a company called Dreamland Skateparks made it even better, adding a cool sidewalk entry designed by Adam Kuby. The skatepark is about 11,070 square feet (1,028 square meters) in size, so there's plenty of space to skate!
Pier Pool
In the southwest corner of the park, you'll find Pier Pool, which is open during the summer. The park, including the pool, was officially opened in 1940. The very first person to swim in the pool was the Junior Rose Festival Queen at the time. The pool was closed by the City Council for a while, but in 2007, it received money from the government to reopen in 2008, so everyone could enjoy it again!
