Tom Mccall Waterfront Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Summary: Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a popular urban park located in Portland, Oregon, along the banks of the Willamette River.


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Summary

It offers a wide range of attractions and activities, making it a must-visit destination for locals and tourists alike.

Reasons to Visit:
1. Natural Beauty: The park provides stunning views of the river, with picturesque landscapes, lush greenery, and well-maintained gardens.
2. Recreation and Activities: Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, biking, rollerblading, picnicking, and even kayaking in the river.
3. Festivals and Events: The park hosts several annual events and festivals, including the iconic Waterfront Blues Festival, Oregon Brewers Festival, and the Rose Festival's CityFair.
4. Historical Significance: The park's location was once a bustling harbor, and remnants of this history can be seen in its architecture and artifacts.

Points of Interest:
1. Salmon Street Springs: This interactive fountain is a favorite spot for cooling off during the summer months, where visitors can run through streams of water shooting up from the ground.
2. Battleship Oregon Memorial: Located at the southern end of the park, the memorial pays tribute to the USS Oregon, a battleship that served during the Spanish-American War.
3. Ankeny Plaza: This area hosts a farmers market on Saturdays and provides a space for food carts, allowing visitors to indulge in a variety of delicious treats.
4. Segregation Era Plaque: Located near the Morrison Bridge, this plaque shares the history of racial segregation in Portland and the importance of the civil rights movement.

Interesting Facts:
1. The park was named after Tom McCall, the governor of Oregon from 1967 to 1975, who was a passionate advocate for environmental preservation.
2. It was originally intended to be a freeway, but thanks to Tom McCall's efforts, it was transformed into a public park.
3. The park spans approximately 36 acres, stretching for about a mile along the river's east bank.
4. The Tilikum Crossing, a cable-stayed bridge exclusively for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transportation, offers scenic views from the park.

Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit Tom McCall Waterfront Park is during the summer months from June to September when the weather is typically sunny and warm. This allows visitors to fully enjoy the outdoor activities and events hosted in the park. Additionally, spring and fall offer pleasant temperatures and beautiful foliage, making them great alternatives for a visit as well.

Sources:
- "Tom McCall Waterfront Park." The Trust for Public Land, www.tpl.org/our-work/tom-mccall-waterfront-park.
- "Tom McCall Waterfront Park." Travel Portland, www.travelportland.com/attractions/tom-mccall-waterfront-park/.
- "Tom McCall Waterfront Park." Friends of RiverPlace, www.friendsofriverplace.org/tom-mccall-waterfront-park.html.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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