Portland Parks are more than Special
For a fairly small city, Portland is #1 in the nation for many things, and I am sure I only know a few of them. The ones that interest me have to do with quality of life and environment. Did you know that Portland has the largest forested natural area within a city in the US? That of course would be Forest Park which is 5100 acres.
How about the only volcano within city limits? Thankfully Mt Tabor is now fully extinct, but that too has been turned into a park.
[[Can’t find a picture of My Tabor in my library at the moment. I will have to fix that!]]
How about the only state park within city limits? That would be Tryon Creek State Natural Area.
How about the oldest continuously operating public rose test garden in the US. Well that is an easy one but did you know why it was originally created? It was to save some of the hybrids developed in Europe during World War 1. It now has over 8000 rose plants in more than 600 varieties.
If you know of other Portland records please leave a comment. There are many gardens for which I would love to say that Portland is best, but that is subjective. However I would forward the Japanese, Chinese and Rhododendron gardens as falling into that category.
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Brought to you by Brian Bailey
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Pingback: Brian Bailey: World's smallest Park - Mill Ends
Thanks Anne, Yes I forgot about that one. Nice addition. I will have to get a picture of that as well!
Nice article Brian, but I must point out a small yet significant omission: Mill Ends Park on Naito Parkway at SW Taylor Street. Reputedly the home of a leprechuan colony, Mill Ends Park was established in the late 1940’s by a Portland newspaperman and became a City of Portland Park in 1976.