Dawson Park (Portland, Oregon)
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| Dawson Park | |
|---|---|
-1.jpg) Signage for the park in 2013 | |
 | |
| Location | N Stanton St. and Williams Ave. Portland, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 45°32′39″N 122°40′03″W / 45.54416667°N 122.66750000°W |
| Area | 2.05 acres (0.83 ha) |
| Created | 1921 |
| Designer | Florence Holmes Gerke |
| Operated by | Portland Parks & Recreation |
Dawson Park is a historic urban park in north Portland, Oregon, in the United States.[1] The 2.05 acres (0.83 ha) park is located at Stanton Street and North Williams Avenue.
Dawson Park was designed by Florence Holmes Gerke,[2] and acquired by Portland Parks & Recreation in 1921.[3]
In November 2013, a $2.6 million renovation began, resulting in the park's closure for nearly a year. City officials, aware of gentrification of the surrounding neighborhood, utilized community input to preserve the park's role as a gathering place favored by African Americans.[4] The upgraded park now includes a new playground and interactive water feature, enhanced accessibility and lighting, and new barbecue and picnic areas. Dawson Park also features double-sided artistic medallions designed by Isaka Shamsud-Din, with traditional African patterns on one side and depictions of the neighborhood on the opposite side.[5] Additionally, the twelve artistic "story boulders" were added to the park to help preserve its history.[6]
