Parks

Streetfilms: Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square

According to the Project for Public Spaces (PPS), Portland, Oregon's Pioneer Courthouse Square is one of the Top 10 greatest public spaces in the U.S. & Canada. I couldn't agree more. Affectionately referred to as the city's "living room" the charming and versatile block was once slated to be a parking garage in the 1960s. Thankfully the residents didn't let that happen.

By Clarence Eckerson Jr.

7:18 AM PDT on July 11, 2008

According to the Project for Public Spaces (PPS), Portland, Oregon’s Pioneer Courthouse Square
is one of the Top 10 greatest public spaces in the U.S. & Canada. I
couldn’t agree more. Affectionately referred to as the city’s “living
room” the charming and versatile block was once slated to be a parking garage in the 1960s. Thankfully the residents didn’t let that happen.

Recently while grabbing lunch in Portland, I wandered into the
“Festival of Flowers” – a beautiful urban meadow installation that was
so pleasant and comforting, I just had to shoot some video. Ethan Kent
from PPS has often said to me that the key to the success of Pioneer
Courthouse Square (and many public spaces) is its amazingly diverse
programming. He’s right, I’ve been to Portland a dozen times and there
always seems to be something wonderful going on there.