Touch Grass: Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Positioned right across the street from Mill Ends Park, featured in the February 23 issue, Tom McCall Waterfront Park occupies a much larger area, at 30.9 acres stretching along the bank of the Willamette in downtown Portland. The park’s land was acquired in 1927, and, according to the Portland.gov website, a favorite of Touch Grass, “the idea for this park came at the turn of the century when the 1903 Olmsted Report pointed out the need not only for parks within the city, but for a greenway scheme for the riverbanks in order to ensure their preservation for future generations.” Later on, “Governor Tom McCall created the Harbor Drive Task Force in 1968 in order to study proposals for creating a public open space in its place. In 1974, Harbor Drive was torn up and construction of a waterfront park began. It was completed and dedicated in 1978, gaining instant popularity. In 1984, the park was renamed Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park.”

The long park is also home to the Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park, which contains a large piece of the ship, as well as the mooring point for the floating Oregon Maritime Museum, which is housed on a steam-powered tug. Per the Portland.gov website, “The Battleship Oregon Memorial was built in 1956 to honor an 1893 ship. It was nicknamed 'the Bulldog of the United States Navy' and fought in many famous battles before it was retired from service. On July 4, 1976, a time capsule was sealed in the base of the memorial. The time capsule is to be opened July 5, 2076.” This is just one of many memorial constructions within Tom McCall Waterfront Park, a list of which can be found on its section of the Portland.gov website.The park contains many paved pathways often along the river’s edge, as well as an interactive fountain for the summer months and plenty of green space. The park is open 5:00am-midnight daily and is located a 12-minute drive away. It is also accessible by public transport, a roughly 50-minute journey from campus on either the bus system or the MAX. While the wind off the river can make it a chilly destination, it is a good outdoor space for the winter overall because the beauty of the park does not rely on flowering plants, but rather the awe-inspiring views of the river and the city surrounding it. With its downtown location, Tom McCall Waterfront Park would be a great place to stop along during a larger outing into the city, or as a supplement if Mill Ends Park doesn’t have quite enough grass to touch. To learn more, visit its section on the Portland.gov website. So, go out and touch grass in Tom McCall Waterfront Park!