Friends of Darcelle XV Plaza

Friends of Darcelle XV Plaza A diverse coalition of the LGBTQ+ community, businesses, property owners, agencies & area residents. Built by Robert S. and Mrs. William E. Roberts.

Historical Information
This site is supposedly near the clearing where W.C. Overton and Asa Lovejoy agreed to found a town in November 1843. The square itself is named for Hugh Donaldson O'Bryant, a pioneer who migrated to Oregon from Georgia in 1843. O'Bryant was a carpenter who showed his civic pride in 1850 when he founded Portland's first public library. He was elected as Portland's first mayo

r in the city's first election on April 7, 1851, by receiving 104 of the 222 votes cast. In the early 1900s, the Rivoli Theater and the Basket Grocery were the two best known features on the block. Farrell, business and political leader and one of the founders of the Multnomah Athletic Club, the Rivoli Theater was famous for its vaudeville acts. At the beginning of World War II, with stage acts a thing of the past, it was renamed the Newsreel Theater. The grocery was one of the finest gourmet delicatessens in Portland for 50 years before it was closed in 1969. In 1971 the property was donated to the city by Mr. Built mostly of brick and concrete, the square was designed by Donald Edmundson and Evan Kennedy of the Portland firm of Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall, and was dedicated in December 1973. O'Bryant Square's dominant feature is a bronze fountain in the shape of a rose, fittingly titled Fountain to a Rose. It was made possible through a $28,000 bequest from Donald Card Sloan, who was a prime minister of the Royal Rosarians in 1953. Its inscription reads "May you find peace in this garden." The fountain is surrounded by 250 rose bushes and other plants. Beneath the fountain's jets an underground parking garage accommodates 90 cars, making it the first park with parking in the city. In 1976, O'Bryant Square received a national design award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The foundations and supports are almost done, and the STAGE is taking shape! A lot of progress has been made in the pas...
02/03/2026

The foundations and supports are almost done, and the STAGE is taking shape! A lot of progress has been made in the past two weeks. Let's hope for an opening by the end of June as planned!

Proposed $1 million cut to parks, and over $4 million to clean-up of camps. Friends of Parks groups have banded togeth...
11/11/2025

Proposed $1 million cut to parks, and over $4 million to clean-up of camps. Friends of Parks groups have banded together to say NO to this budget amendment. We need camps cleaned up, bio waste removed to keep kids safe. We can’t cut $1 million from current parks - the new bond $ is not here yet!

City Councilor Angelita Morillo has proposed cutting $4.3 million from the Impact Reduction Program, which is the city team in charge of clearing homeless camps.

November UPDATE!As you can see from the photo, the underground work is progressing. City utilities are done, and a new ...
11/08/2025

November UPDATE!
As you can see from the photo, the underground work is progressing. City utilities are done, and a new Pacific Power Volt has been installed. Massive trench foundation work to support the overhead canopy (sails) and cables is near completion. It's a lot of underground structures to support high winds, ice, and snow, as well as the tension needed between the poles.

Photo from 11/7, design drawing from concept. (colors might not be correct)

In addition, a few photos (before and after in white) from the refurbished historic Skidmore iron works will be installed at the entries. (they will have light on them). Historic Portland Fire Hydrants are being painted in rainbow colors for the small 24 hr Off-Leash dog run.

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS! Fulcum Construction (fulcrumpdx.com) is on-site. The first day brought protection to the new trees...
08/05/2025

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS! Fulcum Construction (fulcrumpdx.com) is on-site. The first day brought protection to the new trees and some site survey work, including evaluation of the ground for the footings of three massive canopy posts. Utility work will follow. Watch for updates as the New Darcelle XV Plaza comes to life. (Opening early Spring 2026)

Portland Parks & Recreation Portland Parks Foundation Councilor Dan Ryan Darcelle XV Showplace Downtown Portland Clean & Safe Portland Metro Chamber Travel Gay Portland

It's PRIDE WEEKEND in PORTLAND!The Darcelle XV Plaza fence on the Washington Street side features an activation area whe...
07/18/2025

It's PRIDE WEEKEND in PORTLAND!
The Darcelle XV Plaza fence on the Washington Street side features an activation area where you can write on a tag to indicate the events you’d like to see at the park.

Ambassadors will be present to answer any questions and hand out pens to passersby on Friday and Saturday from 12-2 pm.

Portland Parks Foundation Portland Pride Portland Parks & Recreation Darcelle XV Showplace Councilor Dan Ryan Travel Gay Portland

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Portland, OR
97205

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