Peninsula Park

How is it possible that I've lived in Portland all my life and have never heard of this park?!

My friend and I headed to a wood salvage place on Friday, and she mentioned the park because we were in the general area.

I said I had never been, so when we were headed to our second wood hunting destination, we did a drive by.

Then, we parked and got out.

Holy cow you guys, this place is gorgeous!

I was so glad I had my camera with me.

Here's a little bit of historical information that I got online:

"Peninsula Park is a formally designed neighborhood park, typical of the early 1900s. It includes the city's first public rose garden and first community center, a historically designated bandstand, and Portland's second oldest playground. 
The park was purchased by the city in 1909 for $60,000 with funds raised in a 1908 bond measure. Originally owned by local businesswoman Liverpool Liz, it had been the site for a roadhouse and racetrack for quarter-mile horse racing. An autopark and campground were also included in the original parcel. Planned by renowned Oregon architects Ellis Lawrence and Ormond R. Bean, the park was a result of Portland's 1912 'City Beautiful' movement. Completed in 1913, much remains of the original features, including the lantern-style streetlights, the stone pillars, vast brickwork, and the nearly 100-year-old fountain in the center of the rose garden."

 In reference to the Peninsula Park Community Center:

"Built in 1913, this Italian villa style facility was the first community center in the Portland park system. Its original floor plan was perfectly symmetrical, consisting of one pool, two locker rooms, and two gyms - one for men, the other for women. Such separate-but-equal social attitudes were also reflected in the entryway murals: young men featured in the area leading to the men's side, and young women on the women's side. The Portland Lavender Club, a dance and social group for women over age 50, originated here and it was home to a women's volleyball club for many years." 

We only had time to visit the rose garden area, but the website says there's just over 16 acres.  In addition to the rose garden, there's a picnic area, playground, basketball court, soccer field, tennis court, community center, party room, and wedding site, just to name a few.

The brick staircase is where we entered the sunken garden.

The climbing roses growing up against the railings smelled like heaven.

And they were beyond beautiful.

I found a marker on the identical staircase, on the opposite side of the garden, identifying it as Sally Holmes.

Must have.

Gah, it was so pretty.

Everything was symmetrical, and this walkway ran down the middle.

Grass paths, metal structures supporting climbers everywhere, I'm telling you, it was all just beyond stunning.

My pictures don't do it a bit of justice.

Did I mention the fountain?

Are you kidding me?!

It's smack dab in the center.

The fountain was Baby's favorite part, for obvious reasons.

I was able to pull her away from it long enough to go check out the trees on the other side.

They were HUGE - a telltale sign of the age of the park.

I know you smart folks will be able to identify it for me.

Then it was the slow walk back to the car, with another quick stop at the water.

An unplanned stop of pure beauty.

I'd like to take all three of the kids back, once school is out, for a picnic, to check out the rest of the grounds.

I highly recommend it if you're in the neighborhood.

The address is 700 N Rosa Parks Way.