North Park Blocks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Park Blocks |
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View of the Park Blocks, July 2016
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Area | 3.11 acres (1.26 ha) |
| Operated by | Portland Parks & Recreation |
| Status | Open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily |
The North Park Blocks form a city park in downtown Portland, Oregon, in the United States. Most of the park is in northwest Portland (north of Burnside), but one block (Ankeny Square) is in southwest Portland (south of Burnside).
Description and history
Captain John H. Couch deeded the five blocks to the city in 1865, and they were officially platted for a municipal park in 1869. An ordinance was passed in 1904, setting aside one park block for women and children. In 1906, another block was added for a children's playground. The playground was divided into a boys' playground and a small children's and girls' playground. Use of the North Park Blocks declined, especially as the 1924 zoning code did not preserve residential uses near them.
In 2002, Chinese foundry owner Huo Baozhu donated Da Tung and Xi'an Bao Bao, full-size bronze reproductions of Shang dynasty elephant statues, to Portland. The city placed them on the North Park Blocks where children could interact with them.
In recent years, the North Park Blocks have experienced a renaissance. Upscale condominiums and creative commercial buildings have replaced vacant or underutilized buildings. One major project was the 2014–15 major renovation of the historic 511 Federal Building, a former federal post office built in 1916–18, to become the new main campus of the Pacific Northwest College of Art.
