Downtown Portland’s Director Park, a European-style piazza featuring a fountain and ample outdoor seating, hosts events during the warmer months.

Credit: Justin Katigbak, Travel Portland

Director Park

Updated Dec. 12, 2024 1 min read Downtown

Downtown Portland’s Director Park is a European-style, granite-paved plaza that replaced a parking lot in 2009. Located just two blocks from Pioneer Courthouse Square, the park features ample outdoor seating and a fountain, and hosts occasional events in the summer.

Director Park bridges the gap between the South Park Blocks and North Park Blocks, which were historically planned to run continuously through downtown Portland. Upon its opening, The Oregonian called the park “a cozier den to the living room that is Pioneer Courthouse Square.”

leafy trees near a glass canopy in a spacious urban park — Downtown Portland's Director Park, a European-style piazza featuring a fountain and ample outdoor seating, hosts events during the warmer months.

a large fountain and splash pad in a spacious urban park — Downtown Portland's Director Park, a European-style piazza featuring a fountain and ample outdoor seating, hosts events during the warmer months.

a large crowd of people at an outdoor event at dusk — Downtown Portland's Director Park, a European-style piazza featuring a fountain and ample outdoor seating, hosts events during the warmer months.

a glass canopy covers a seating area in a spacious urban park at night — Downtown Portland's Director Park, a European-style piazza featuring a fountain and ample outdoor seating, hosts events during the warmer months.

Park Features

A 25-foot-high glass canopy shelters a terrace with café tables and chairs — a perfect spot to munch on lunch from a nearby food cart. Come sundown, the canopy’s dynamic light installation enlivens the square.

Encircled by hand-crafted wood benches, Teachers Fountain is a busy summer park attraction, attracting families with its shallow, splashable waters.

Why is it called Director Park?

Local developer Jordan Schnitzer donated $1.97 million for the plaza and asked that it be named for his maternal grandparents, Simon and Helen Director. Simon immigrated from Russia and arrived in Portland in 1910, while Helen came from Poland in 1915. The pair met in Portland in 1915 and had three daughters, June, Ruth and Arlene. (Arlene is the namesake for the nearby Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.)

Parks & Gardens