Portland, the largest city in Oregon, is home to a number of attractions. It’s the “City of Roses,” so you’ve got the International Rose Test Garden. Donuts and craft breweries are popular, as is the Japanese Garden. And for a bit of U.S. trivia, did you know that Portland houses the second-largest copper statue in the country, after the Statue of Liberty?
The Pacific Northwest city also has a most unusual superlative claim to fame– Mill Ends Park. Located by the junction of SW Naito Parkway and SW Taylor Street, it is considered to be world’s smallest park.
The evolution to park status was the brainchild of Mr Dick Fagan, an Irishman who was also probably a bit too familiar with grass. In 1946, his office overlooked the busy street (now SW Naito Parkway), and the plot where the park is now was at the time, bereft of a light pole. He took pity on the inanimate space and planted flowers, and, owing to his roots, claimed a leprechaun lived near it. On St. Patrick’s Day 1948, it was officially named Mill Ends (a name owing to humble Portland beginnings at lumber yards), and in 1976, it became a city park. Over the years, citizens have temporarily added flowers, rocks and plastic trinkets; and let’s not forget, since it is Portland, someone even planted cannabis a few years ago.
Can’t wait to see the place? Here ya go:
Mills End Park was moved a full six inches earlier this year, so the photo above is slightly outdated. Outdated yes, but the scale and is the same.
Imagine playing soccer in that park.
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