Mill Ends Park

Mill Ends Park (sometimes called Mill's End Park)^[1] is a small urban park. It is located in the median strip of SW Naito Parkway, approaching esplanade along the Willamentte Rivera near SW Taylor Street in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. The park is a small circle 2 ft (0.61 m) across. It has a total area of 452 sq in (0.292 m²). It is the smallest park in the world. This fact was included in the Guinness Book of Records in 1971.^[2]

History

The park was dedicated on St. Patrick's Day 1948, as "the only leprechaun colony west of Ireland". It was created by Dick Fagan.^[3] In 1948 the site that would become Mill Ends Park was supposed to be the site for a light pole. The pole did not work and weeds began to grow. Fagan, writer for the Oregon Journal, planted flowers in the hole. He named it "Mill Ends", after his column. Fagan died of cancer in 1968. It was named the official city park in 1976.^[2] The small circle has featured many unusual items since its creation. These include, a swimming pool for butterflies (complete with a diving board), a horseshoe, a piece of the Oregon Journal building, and a small Ferris wheel.

On St. Patrick's Day, 2001, the park was decorated with leprechauns.^[2] The park continues to be the site of St. Patrick's Day festivities. The events held there include concerts by Clan Macleay Pipe Band, picnics, and rose plantings by the Junior Rose Festival Court.^[3] In March 2013, the park's tree was stolen. Law enforcement planted a replacement tree. The next day, a passerby found the original tree lying next to the new one.^[4]^[5]

References

↑ "Oregon.com". Archived from the original on 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Young, Amalie (May 6, 2001). "One step and you've left Mill Ends Park". The Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 City of Portland. "Portland Parks and Recreation: Mill Ends Park". Retrieved 8 July 2010.
↑ Hottman, Sara (March 7, 2013). "Tree Stolen from Mill Ends Park Replaced – For the Good of Leprechauns, Officials Say". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2013-03-09.
↑ Hottman, Sara (March 8, 2013). "Tree Stolen from Portland's Mill Ends Park Returned – Maybe Leprechaun Magic, Maybe Remorse, Officials Say". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2013-03-09.

"Oregon". World Book. USA: World Book, Inc. 1994. ISBN 0-7166-0094-3.

Other websites

A photo of the park

45°30′58″N 122°40′24″W / 45.516194°N 122.673226°W / 45.516194; -122.673226

[1] "Oregon.com". Archived from the original on 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2013-07-10.

[LAT-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Young, Amalie (May 6, 2001). "One step and you've left Mill Ends Park". The Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. Retrieved July 15, 2011.

[Fagan-3] 3.0 ^3.1 City of Portland. "Portland Parks and Recreation: Mill Ends Park". Retrieved 8 July 2010.

[4] Hottman, Sara (March 7, 2013). "Tree Stolen from Mill Ends Park Replaced – For the Good of Leprechauns, Officials Say". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2013-03-09.

[5] Hottman, Sara (March 8, 2013). "Tree Stolen from Portland's Mill Ends Park Returned – Maybe Leprechaun Magic, Maybe Remorse, Officials Say". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2013-03-09.

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