(Portland, OR) –Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), the non-profit Portland Parks Foundation, and Legacy Emanuel Medical Center are proud to announce that PP&R’s historic Dawson Park will benefit from a $200,000 Legacy Emanuel donation. The funds will be dedicated to a new water feature at the soon-to-be-renovated park, which encompasses just over two acres at N. Stanton St & Williams Ave.
The water feature is one of several opportunities offered in Dawson Park’s upcoming redesign, which was shaped through extensive community input and aims to celebrate the park’s history. The multimillion dollar makeover will encompass numerous improvements, including interpretive panels which tell the history of the park, an important center of Portland’s African-American community.
The interactive water feature is seen as a vital and unique play element for the community. It was originally suggested by neighbors during extensive public involvement, and heavily supported (see attached rendering).
In the last two years, Portland Commissioner Nick Fish has partnered with Legacy Emanuel on a number of projects including the donation earmarked towards the fountain.
“We’re delighted to see yet another successful public-private partnership coming to fruition,” said Fish. “The generous gift from Legacy Emanuel will greatly add to the amenities and improvements at Dawson Park, and will be a neighborhood treasure for generations to come.
Other features involved in renovations will be a large central lawn, an expanded and fenced children’s playground with new play equipment, new public art, flowering plants, new and more picnic areas and barbeque grills, lighted pathways and bike racks.
“I was born at Legacy Emanuel,” says Joe Nunn, a longtime neighbor and community activist. “I grew up near the park, still live here, and dedicate my time to this community. As a kid, I was in childcare at St. Martins, where they would take us to Dawson Park three times a week. Dawson Park was the central gathering place in the community, after church, after school – there was always music in the park. The park was and is an extension of my home. I am thrilled that Dawson Park is being redeveloped, and people are working to make it a vibrant part of the community once again.”
The stairs and ramp around Dawson Park’s gazebo are being widened to provide ADA access and more space for performer-audience interaction during summer concerts. The existing basketball court, shelter and restrooms will remain in place. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2013.
“I’m ecstatic about the renewal of Dawson Park as an important green space in inner northeast Portland,” says neighbor Donny Adair. “I grew up just around the corner from the park. I lived there until I went to college, and after the death of my grandparents who raised me; I lived there for several years with my family. While growing up in the 1950’s and 1960’s, this park meant everything to us. As toddlers we used the swings and jungle gym. As we got older we played softball, ping-pong and tetherball. My older brother even worked several years as park host, helping us to learn arts and crafts. It was a safe place to play from dawn till dusk under the watchful eye of neighbors and citizens.”
