South Park Blocks

I really enjoy spending time in the South Park Blocks. They are lined with several Museums, the Performing Arts Center, Portland State University, shopping, restaurants, churches and housing. It has paths running from one end to the other. The paths widen into small plazas at times. There are lots of trees, grass, benches, and most blocks have a sculpture of some sort. So they are really great to walk in whether just to walk or to get somewhere.
Lots of people hang out, walk and generally kill time there. Farmers market also uses areas of them which I love. They play host to students, locals relaxing, squirrels, people playing music and homeless people hanging out. That all makes for great people watching.
It was originally intended to extend to the North Park blocks. That fell through though two of the missing blocks have been added over the years. In 1973 the city purchased what is now O’Bryant Square, and Director Park opened in 2009.

How have I never reviewed the SPB? My humble guess is that I’ve walked them completely up and down about 100 times, with the utter conviction each time that being in this part of downtown could easily disguise for strolling in Europe. hands-​down.
Located on both sides by Cultural District and great restaurants, so easy to take a load off, park it on a bench, and enjoy the stellar views and the wonderful breeze. Most recently, I attended the speical rotating exhibit from the V&A at PAM. Another few reasons that I walked it were after dinner strolls to dump off a fraction of the calories ingested.
This has so much more historicity than the North Park Blocks, IMHO. One of the favorite parts of the city for me.

The South Park Blocks are a cultural playground for Portland. With multiple museums, farmer’s markets, plays and institutions, this makes for our desire to be like the French. The blocks are neatly laid out and you can run from tree to tree in a spirit like the musicians.
The nature is beautiful and the sweet song of the farmer’s market combines such natural with artificial beauty. You can do a lot here.
At the Portland Farmer’s Market, they have makers of biscuits, pizza, meat, cider and more. The Art Museum makes this more sophisticated.
Living near here is primarily done by those more well off, but the activities are available to us all. Walking though here can be done by many different entry points from all kinds of avenues, boulevards, streets, public transportation and cars.
The South Park Blocks are always up to something.

Its a nice place to walk, talk, people watch, eat your ice or drink your coffee. You can got on a date, take your kiddos or walk you dog. There are a lot of great coffee shops and places to eat nearby. You can stroll around the block several times and not tire of them.

it’s a nice little stretch going down along this path with benches right along it. there are some sculptures here and there you can admire as you walk through this little green promenade. i liked the lincoln statue!

Today I saw a squirrel in the park; it was running, jumping, appeared somewhat nervous around people… it was also a man — yes, a man in a squirrel suit. Welcome to Portland, and no, I’m not making this up.
I live near the South Park Blocks and love them. These parks are part of what makes Portland so awesome — abundant green space and public recreation areas. Walking through these parks in the summer, with all their greenery, grass, and flowers, feels like you’re walking through the forest, yet you’re in the heart of the city. Not only is it a great place to enjoy nature, you can also learn something from the various statues and sculptures throughout the park, or by reading a book on one of the many benches. There’s also a lot to do here; you have the famous Portland Farmers Market (located at the PSU end of the blocks) and countless events, concerts, etc. happening weekly.
The demographic is 85% friendly Portlanders walking their dogs, reading books, or enjoying lunch from the near by carts; and 15% crazy homeless people. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Portland would be a near utopia if it wasn’t for all the homeless and the South Park Blocks reflect that. Like most awesome places in Portland the homeless like to congregate here. Plan on being hit up a few times for money, drugs, or booze while you’re enjoying your time here. Also enjoy some of the free entertainment as the especially crazy ones scream at the abundant CIA trees that continually monitor them — so beautiful yet so sinister.
Seriously though, grab a book and a few bucks for a killer cart lunch and hit up one of the places that makes Portland one of the best places in the world to live.

I fell in love with the South Park Blocks on my first visit to Portland for a job interview. When I moved to Portland, I ended up living right on Park Avenue. I love the old trees, the farmers markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the art. I even enjoy most of the people who take advantage of the SPB. The new Portland Loo has attracted more of, uhh, a certain element, but I’m glad the urine is going there instead of doorways.
The parking situation sucks much of the time, which does not amuse my few visitors, but that’s a small price to pay.

For the first year or so that I lived in Portland, I was within about a block of the South Park Blocks roughly 75% of the time. PSU, plus a job nearby, plus the Portland Farmer’s Market on the weekend, plus general shenanz at a few long-​gone places that used to line the blocks before PSU started a big expansion and re-​vamp of the entire area. I had a hard time feeling rooted for awhile here, but could spend hours upon hours in that park, reading, listening to street preachers, eating lunch… just about anything.
In other words, I hold a special place in my heart for those eight acres that make up the place. I can’t imagine how PSU would feel without them.
The first big chunk was designated in 1852, about twenty years before mansions and churches popped up on either side. By the 1880s, most of those were split up into apartment dwellings. Fast forward to the 1950s and what would become the first building of PSU (then Lincoln High School), sprung, leading to what we know today as the full campus.
Possibly my favorite spot is Roosevelt Square, in which stands the 18-​foot statue of olé Teddy himself. While the whole stretch feels pretty old, the still-​new (ish) Director Park, between Taylor and Morrison is actually included in the South Park Blocks as well. It’s less than half an acre and deserving of its own review.
While I don’t get down there as much as I’d like anymore, I’m definitely going to try. Walking up and down those blocks with the fall leaves crunching under my feet, hot beverage in hand, may be one of my most favorite Portland past times ever.

I love this place so much that I walk through it deliberately on my daily trek to work. It’s especially beautiful in the fall, producing a display of color unmatched anywhere else in Portland.
On Wed and Sat there is even a farmers market with lots of fresh produce, cheese, and a host of other delectables. A good place to find the days lunch, as well.
A gateway to PSU, it’s surrounded by churches, The Portland Art Museum, the Schnitzer Auditorium, and other cultural Portlandia attractions. There’s a lot of good diversity in the people watching as well, ranging from students to well, Portland’s own plentiful supply of the downtrodden. Whatever you’re looking for it’s to be found here.
Spend just one afternoon in the South Park Blocks and I guarantee you will want to return.

Portland gets so much mileage out of urban green space. There are just so many great shady lawns, open benches, and stately trees all along these streets. I could do with fewer shouty bums, but they’re not the park’s fault. This is a great place to sit and relax, eat lunch, catch up on your phone, or otherwise enjoy the benefits of fresh air in a setting that’s pretty claustrophobic with commerce. It’s easy to imagine combining a stroll here with some culturally edifying activity at a museum or theater nearby, on the way to a good meal. Dig the metropolitan vibe here. It’s a great combination of history, architecture, activity, and tranquility.

Oh beautiful Park Blocks!!! How you calm me on my walks to work!!!

Wandering aimlessly around downtown Portland on a recent visit to the city, I was pulled along through the green spaces of the South Park Blocks by the sound of live music. Turned out that The Kingsmen (of Louie Louie fame) were performing outside of the Oregon History Museum to celebrate the grand opening of the Oregon Rocks! exhibit. No shit!
The show itself was sold out, but I could hear the music just fine from the park and lingered there enjoying the trees, flowers, sculptures, and excellent people-​watching opportunities that only a park in the heart of downtown Portland can provide. The tall, shady trees also provided a welcome respite from the hot August sunshine.

The South Park Blocks are a pretty, enjoyable and narrow slice of nature within Portland’s Cultural District. During my stay in Portland, I walked several of the blocks, visited the Portland Art Museum and the Oregon Historical Society, enjoyed the public art (including statues and fountain), and and marveled at the architecture of the First Congregational Church and other buildings along this first official green space of the Rose City.
The South Park Blocks were also a welcome respite from my busy day and a much better choice for contemplation than the relatively nearby Pioneer Square. Or as the Oregonian once noted: The South Park Blocks is the «extended family room», as opposed to the Courthouse Area being the «living room». Odd members of the clan can be found in both places and some caution is advised.

One of the coolest things about Portland is the park blocks. It’s like an anti-​freeway running through downtown, with great farmers markets, people enjoying lunch from a food cart, reading a book or reading something on their phones, and some just people watching. It’s a great asset to the city that many people don’t seem to notice is there nor take the time to appreciate.

A bit longer than the North Park Blocks, and so much more lovely!
I passed it twice a day on bus from Hawthorne to downtown. Then on a Saturday midday, I decided to check out the park I passed by everyday. So I got off the #14 bus and walked a couple of blocks to the park. Fortunately the bus stopped at the northern end of this park. And even more so, I came on a farmer market day! How fortunate I came on the right day!
I brought a few goodies, ate them all while I looked at the product, tried some of the samples. It was as if I was in paradise if not heaven! The vendors were so kind, the people there as nice as them, and when I decided I had enough, I brought one more goody and sat at one of the benches a block away to watch all of the people walk by.
I expected the park to end just a few blocks from where the market was but to my surprise, the park goes all the way to Portland State University! I have visited PSU before but I thought the park was a very long, narrow «quad» surrounded and crisscrossed by streets. Boy I was impressed! It’s as if the university wand the city is a part of each other!
More reason for me to live in Portland!

So nice — on a nice day. If you’re visiting Portland on a Saturday you must visit the farmers market here.

My favorite part of Portland… so close to the city center but yet feels so different and special. The trees that line the main walking route (which runs right thru the middle of the park, north to south) are amazing and keep the park cool and shaded in the summer. The art museum, psu, and my favorite starbucks in town are along these blocks. What a wonderful part of the city!

A mini-​nature fix to be found amidst Portland’s lively downtown.
This portion of the Park Blocks is one block wide and runs north-​south the length of downtown starting at Portland state University. During Farmer’s Market season, its a nice relaxing way to get to & from the PSU Farmer’s Market on the weekends. During the week it can provide a small respite from the city.
Portions of the park are run down and not really inviting for a long rest on a park bench. However, its nice to walk through the park and observe the various architecture of the surrounding buildings while being shaded by old trees, and to explore the many sculptures scattered through the Park Blocks.
Despite the fact that the Park Blocks might seem like a good place to run (since it runs most of the length of downtown) I would NOT recommend it for running. The park is interrupted by buildings too frequently, and you’ll have to stop at almost every street in order to cross safely. Further, the sidewalks in the park are narrow and often scattered with slower moving travelers.

I am surprised that this park doesn’t get more love from the Unilocalers. I’ve always enjoyed the South Park Blocks, and considering their popularity, I know I am not the only one.
A little oasis in the middle of busy downtown, the park stretches as far as you want to walk, through shady trees, among the flowers, and past many statues and works of art. Enjoy views of classical Portland architecture, see strolling couples and happy seniors enjoying the peace. It really is a great place to visit.
And whenever you’re ready, just walk a block away on one of the cross streets and suddenly you’re back in the city again. I am so happy for the vision of the early city planners, it makes me appreciate the thought of what today’s actions will bring tomorrow.

I was staring up at Teddy Roosevelt’s horse early this morning and I got to wondering, how could this spot in a city full of many reputable cultural destinations stick out so much to me? How is it that I can say, with my hand on my heart, that this is my favorite place in Portland?
Maybe it’s all about roots, both literally and symbolically. Acquired in 1869, The South Park Blocks used to be the western edge of Portland. What began as a roadway for the city turned into a prominent public green space (sound familiar Waterfront Park?) Over time it became the top location for people to live and relax within «a cathedral of trees with a simple floor of grass». Today, while the mansions, Masonic temples, and marks of the elite have made way for churches, hotels, museums, and schools, the 12 blocks of green remain unchanged, save for the periodic addition of a work of art gifted to the city like Proctor’s «Theodore Roosevelt — Rough Rider».
Growing up in the area, I always imagined that the South Park Blocks must be exactly what Central Park in New York City would be like. But now that I’ve been to both I realize that our park (a measly ¹⁄₁₀₀ of the size of the NYC urban counterpart) is so much simpler, and for that a true success.
Between the busy one way streets full of delivery trucks trying to get to the Schnitzer, school buses unloading kids at the art museum, PSU students running to class, and construction going on all around, a bit of refuge is appreciated. Where one can stop and smell the roses (just don’t pick them, it’s a $ 500 fine!), or sit on an old wooden bench for a coffee or lunch break and watch people try to figure out that Roy Lichtenstein sculpture that looks vaguely like colorized flying bacon…
Yes, there are certainly more flashy 21^st Century places in Portland, and when it comes right down to it, the South Park Blocks are actually quite forgettable. It’s not fancy, or swank, or hip. The 132 year old poplars and elms that flank the buckling pathways and donated artwork are tired and worn.
But as I stood here, happy for a break from the rain and a cup of tea from a café close at hand, I tried to remember that famous pearl of wisdom about gratitude… what was it again?
Oh yeah… Never look a gift horse in the mouth.