Pioneer Courthouse Square

Specialties

Pioneer Courthouse Square, located in the heart of Downtown Portland, is an urban park affectionately known as the City’s «living room.» Prior to its grand opening in 1984, a private 501©(3) non-​profit organization was created to manage programming and daily operations. The non-​profit advocacy groups’ ongoing mission is to activate and enrich the environment of the City of Portland’s première public Park and gathering space for the benefit of Portland’s citizens and visitors. Working in partnership with the City of Portland, the non-​profit organization has successfully fulfilled the Park’s prominent public role with the help of community volunteers and private sector contributions. In recent years, through this unique public-​private management model, the Park has been recognized as one of the most successful public spaces in the United States.

History

Established in 1984.

From a Central School in 1856 to the Portland Hotel in 1890, the Square didn’t always look the way we know and love it today, it has taken many various shapes and served many forms in its lifetime.

In the 1980s an international design competition was announced to create a new public space for downtown Portland. Over 160 designs were submitted by architects from all over the country, but one stood out. Willard Martin submitted the winning design of Pioneer Courthouse Square to the Portland Development Commission, as a tribute to his design. Today, a bronze replica of Will’s signature wide-​rim hat is located above the Visitor Information Center — as if he had tossed it there as he walked by, in 2014.

Today, the Square hosts over 300 events per year, including cultural festivals, art and music showcases, farmers markets and more. Several businesses call the Square home, such as TriMet, Travel Portland and the KGW Studio on the Square. Portland’s Living Room has something for everyone.