Pier Park is a municipal park in Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...

, U.S. It is in the North Portland neighborhood of St. Johns

St. Johns, Portland, Oregon

St. Johns is a neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, United States located in North Portland on the tip of the peninsula formed by the confluence of the Willamette River and the Columbia River....

 and is bordered by North Columbia Blvd. and characterized by evergreen forest. Pier Park along with Kelley Point Park

Kelley Point Park

Kelley Point Park is a city park in north Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. Bounded by the Columbia Slough on the south, the Willamette River on the west, and the Columbia River on the north, the park forms the tip of the peninsula at the confluence of the rivers...

 and Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area

Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area

Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area is a public park and nature reserve between the Columbia Slough and the Columbia River in Portland, Oregon. At about , it is one of the largest urban freshwater wetlands in the United States. Metro, the regional government for the Oregon part of the Portland...

 contribute land in its natural state to North Portland.

The park takes its name from a person named Pier, not because it has a pier

Pier

A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...

.

History

The parcel of land on which the park was developed was part of the James Loomis donation land claim. The city of Portland passed an ordinance in 1921 naming the park for Sylvester Charles Pier (1853–1935). Previously a sales manager of Marshall Wells Hardware Company, Pier took office as City commissioner in 1919, serving four years in charge of parks. His son, Stanhope S. Pier succeeded him as commissioner and served two terms.
Prior to the park, St. Johns brick company operated just a block away, until 1905 when the factory ran out of clay. The abandoned brickyard was used as a playground until 1920 when the buildings were demolished. In development of the area which was previously a wetland more than 100 men were employed from the unemployment list. Wood from clearing the site was sent to local families in need of fuel.
On July 4, 1929, a longshoreman's strike called Bloody Tuesday occurred in the park.

Amenities

Park amenities include a baseball field, basketball court, soccer field, tennis court, restrooms, disabled access picnic areas, disc golf courses, and paved and unpaved paths. The play structures were renovated and added to in the summer of 2007 as part of an effort to improve old equipment.
A concrete skatepark resides at the Southwest end of the park, first developed by the army Corp of Engineers in 2001, and later redeveloped by Dreamland Skateparks. It is 11070 ft2.

Pier Pool

The Southwest corner has Pier Pool, which is open in the summer season. The park was dedicated in 1940, including the pool. The first swimmer was the reigning Junior Rose Festival Queen. The pool was closed by the City Council, but received federal funding in Spring 2007 to be reopened in 2008.