Pdxguide

This North Portland oasis is known for it’s swimming pools, community center, gazebo-like octagonal bandstand, fountains, and it’s sunken rose gardens (which were actually the first in the city, even before the more-famous International Rose Test Gardens) containing 65 varieties of roses. Sometimes spontaneous midnight picnics and sing-alongs can occur here. Three interesting historical asides about this park: 1) Originally owned by local businesswoman “Liverpool Liz”, it had been the site for a roadhouse and horse racetrack; 2) In the 1950s, the city zoo housed its penguins in the center’s pool for six months because the zoo lacked the proper facilities when the birds arrived from Antarctica. Many Portlanders still remember calling it Penguin Park! and 3) Johnny Cash once had a picnic here (it’s true!)