Duniway Park

History and Origins

Duniway Park is a 14.03-acre public park located in southwest Portland, Oregon. Acquired in 1918, the park has a rich history and unique features that make it a notable green space in the city.

The park was originally the site of Portland's first Italian settlement colony, with the influx of Italian immigrants occurring between 1900 and 1917. It was named in honor of Abigail Scott Duniway, a prominent writer, newspaper publisher, and advocate for women's right to vote. In 1912, Duniway became the first legal female voter in Multnomah County.

Landscape and Development

Duniway Park is built on what was once Marquam Gulch, a steep gully at the south edge of downtown Portland. The area served as a municipal garbage dump before being transformed into the park we see today.

The park is laid out in a series of flat terraces with steep slopes between them, reflecting its history as a filled-in gulch.

Lilac Garden

One of the park's most distinctive features is its lilac garden. Surrounded by steep hillsides covered with fir and cedar trees, the garden contains approximately 225 lilac plants, including over 125 varieties.

Most of these are hybrids of Syringa vulgaris, which bloom from late March to early May. A notable specimen in the garden is a large Japanese Tree Lilac that blooms in June.

Athletic Facilities

In May 1995, Duniway Park became the site of an innovative track installation. A state-of-the-art track surface was created using recycled rubber, including over 20,000 pounds of athletic shoe soles donated by Nike, Inc.

More recently, in 2015, Portland Parks & Recreation partnered with Under Armour to enhance the park's recreational facilities. This collaboration led to improvements including a new turf athletic field and a running track with lighting, completed in summer 2017.

Duniway Park continues to serve as an important recreational space for Portland residents, offering a blend of natural beauty, historical significance, and modern athletic facilities.