Jamison Square

This park is a favorite of kids. There is no playground but on a nice day when there is water, it’s packed and loud.
The water is not alwAys there. Sometimes it is a nice paved plaza with steps at one end. According to Wiki they wanted to discourage skateboarders, so the added off and on water running over the steps that gathers at the bottom forming a pool.
There is art in the square and views of nice buildings. When not overrun with kids it’s a nice place for a picnic.
The buildings around it sell lots of food. Across from the park, Cool Moon sells ice cream.

I really like this square/​park. Small, but does the trick. When it gets warm out, come here and relax on the rocks and let the sun sink in (but wear sunscreen, people!). During the afternoon you see a lot of business people and families come by, but everyone is really cool and friendly. Take a nap, have lunch, read a good book, you can do it all here.

Jamison Square is the well-​needed respite from the trappings of the Pearl District. Its park benches, trees and landscape architecture is always adorned for the season — in the summer, the brick-​laid open space is filled with water to escape the infrequent-​but-​scorching heatwave. In the winter, the trees are dressed in their formal attire of twinkling lights, and a large Christmas tree occupies the area that was once a summer wading pool for children.
There is always something here whether it be kids splashing in the summer time or the solo couple dancing to Christmas music.
Or the silly man on one knee proposing to his girlfriend in the rain.

I am on a home trade here in the Pearl District, this square is a lovely little space to walk through. Like most areas here in the District it is very well maintained. It’s a bit of a short cut as you can walk diagonally through what appears to be a whole block. Good place to walk your dogs I suppose. During warm weather days, from what I understand, they’ve got water cascading down a wide (low and safe) group of steps, its a great place to cool off for the children. There are a number of benches to sit and relax on, on fair weather days. I would definitely recommend this space as a good place to step out of your apt, home, or loft for some good outdoor air.

Such a great park to visit, I wish there was one nearby me! The water is refreshing and calming and the park is lined with interesting totem poles. We hung out at the park as we ate ice cream from Cool Moon across the street.

Jamison Square is a thrilling park tucked into the outer Pearl District. There are large totem poles, a drinking fountain, several sculptures and a bathing fountain. It is a big rectangle which is heavily serviced by the Portland Streetcar, headed in different directions where tenth and eleventh avenues meet Johnson Street. Some stores are nearby, but you may have to walk a few blocks to enjoy the height of Pearl District Shopping.
The fountain was what got me to visit here. I dipped my hand into the fountain and a rock, where this pleasantly smooth feeling emerged within me. There is also a bear and a Star Trek symbol for the park’s sculptures. Lots of sand is here and so are lots of places to sit. The water was nice and cold at the drinking fountain. After a few minutes, tada, I could take the streetcar towards Portland State University.
Take a good look at Jamison Square everyone.

I totally happened upon this place by accident. We were in the area grabbing some sushi at Yama, and just decided to take a walk after lunch. What a pleasant surprise. First off, this place is flat out beautiful city park. It is places like these that make me love the city of Portland. It brings a bit of the outdoors into the heart of the city. It is a great place to lounge or to dip your feet. It is also super kid friendly and even has bathroom on site. If you are in Portland and in the Pearl, you should grab an ice cream at Cool Moon and pop a squat around the water.

This little gem is a real blessing. Portland is experiencing a real summer and we need free outdoor water play options. Jamison Square is great. Cascading water comes down a set of 3 stone high waterfall and build a small arched pool. The water fall stops after a few minutes and drains completely and then begins again.
There is also a boccie ball court behind the water fall area as well as a grassy shaded area in front. There are many businesses around and a public bathroom stall on the comer.

I enjoy this place. I feel lucky to live in a city that has something like this in the heart of downtown. Summers can be hectic with kids but that’s how it goes. Best time to go if you’re without children is when school is in session. Right before summer starts and right after it ends.

My wife and I were anxious to try our this park with our 15-​month son since he absolutely loves water. We went 2 weeks ago, and he got diarreha for the proceeding 4 days without explanation and no change in diet/​environment. This week, we went again. That night he spiked a fever of 102.5 and fought it for about 2 days until things settled back down. It is extremely rare that our son gets sick or has a fever, so I think this is no coincidence. Both times he took a bath immediately afterwards, and these were very warm (80+) days so a ‘chill’ is unlikely. This water has some chlorine, but I think the quality of the water in this fountain is suspect. We won’t be playing in this fountain in the foreseeable future, unfortunately.
4 stars because our son loved playing here, but –2 because it got him sick for days each of the 2x times we went. It’s a good water feature that looks cool, but realistically you can only keep it ‘so’ clean with people walking through it repeatedly.

Great fun for kids. Tons of shaded seating for adults and a fun clean water play area for the kids. Street parking available for parking. Lots of cute shops to eat and shop. Overall great free attraction in the Pearl.

This review is difficult to write because depending on the day of the week and time of the year you go it varies greatly. I went last week and it was the most peaceful, gorgeous, relaxing, heavenly places on Earth at that very moment. However I’ve also gone during the summer when school is out, the fountains are going, and the amount of kids running around screaming, throwing things, being loud, and generally just being kids makes me nervous that if I lay down and try to relax with my headphones I run the risk of a toddler crashing over me or a toy lodged in my face. Plus even my headphones can’t drown out the high pitched squeals surrounding me.
I would normally give a park of this caliber 4-​stars because it really is lovely. On sunny days like last week I love that I’m able to park, find a shady spot (or sunny if I’m in the mood), throw down a town and have a perfect little haven right there in the city.
Great for picnics, as long as your group is reasonably sized. Excellent for date picnics, as long as you avoid the kid filled times. Also you’re surrounded by places to grab ice cream, coffee, and many other goodies that can enhance your visit there.

Those few extra sunny days we get in Portland are perfect to spend lounging at the Jamison Square with a book and an iced coffee in hand. The location is nearby to some awesome coffee shops like Christopher David and parking isn’t that hard to find either.

Known to the locals as Urine Falls and/​or MILF Pond, Jamison Square is a fun place to visit.
It is the only place that I know of that is in the center of luxuray condos, five star restaurants, café’s, an ice cream shop, fashion boutiques and a half-​way home housing a few recovering drunks and registered sex-​offenders.
But don’t let that last part scare you, they’re mostly on parole and most of the actual criminals reside in the condos. So your safe. ;)

We are going to write a review about Portland history.
In the way back, the Pearl District was warehouses and rail yards.
It was home to homeless. Do not go there neighborhood to some.
William Jamison opened the first espresso bar in Portland in lower SW downtown near Mothers. He then made a gallery, the Jamison Thomas Gallery. With two other gallerists, Jamison founded First Thursday in Portland in 1986.
The Jamison Thomas Gallery was the first and only Portland gallery to operate in Portland and in a major art center, New York City. Thomas is son in law to the late artist-​actor Dennis Hopper.
After his gallery downtown, and that twin gallery in New York, operated by Thomas, William Jamison opened the first art gallery in the Pearl District. People then thought the neighborhood was scary and dangerous. The gallery was the first in Portland to show the work of self-​taught artists in the realm of today’s Juxtapoz and Raw Vision.
Later he died before AIDS drugs. Tragically for an artist and gallerist, the disease claimed his eyesight before he passed. But he graciously received visitors at the gallery, blind, recognising many by their voice.
His employees continued with his artists, opening the Froelick
and PDX Contemporary
galleries.
This fountain and park, designed by an internationally famous landscape architect, Peter Walker, was named for Jamison who brought art to the neighborhood before it was named the Pearl District. Before Portland was cool, before Richard Florida and before Portland became a hipster magnet.
I would say that I was a critic of the fountain at this park. But then I worked production for a performance which was set in the fountain and pool. The water is filtered as would be any public pool, and it is interactive in a small child way. Poop proof. Brilliant!
Jamison park has an immediate experience for families and all, and a narrative connection to history which families of all ages can connect! One of Portland’s finest parks!

Jamison Park – an urban amusement park for any age. The police ride on horseback often here and chat with you. You may see Love Bomb Go Go marching band from outer space, performing crazy stuff. Scenic – tall trees and 30-​foot modern totem poles made by an artist cover steel supports and line sidewalks in the middle of live work spaces, shops & high-​rises. Cascading waters run over rocks, an urban beach, where kids play-​some skinny dip a time or two without diapers (come on mom’s, cover those butts). Oh yea, bring a chair or blanket and sit on the pavers cuz the grass is commonly used for doggie business. There is sand to play games like Bochee ball. TV commercials are shot here!
Hungry? In our directions, step across the street to Cool Moon ice cream, Starbucks Ho Lips pizza, classy & casual Jamison restaurant – and more food like Japanese, Chinese, American – lots of places to shop. Go by bike, walk or take the streetcar because parking is a premium on warm sunny days. Spend a day at the Jamison Park, then, spend that money on the local shops too! All in all – a good day, a good time in the park!

This can be a cool little park when the weather is warm out. I was there in 45 degree weather and it was raining. Not much fun there. I will say architecturally, this place is pretty cool. A Mini amphitheater area. A wooden sculpture you can climb on. Two large «totem» pieces of art and the whole park surrounded in a pathway of wood and trees all hidden within the Pearl district. I happened upon it by accident and snapped off some cool photos.
I believe they also had water elements as well for the warm weather, so my kiddo would enjoy coming here when the sky is nice and blue and no rain in the forecast.
Great find.

Perfect warmth, sun, fountain on, shade to rest the weary body after Forest Pk hiking, Cool Moon, and the streetcar!

SUMMER’S DREAMy EVENING
Perfect spot for kids and adults to stay cool during the warm summer evenings in the Pearl District.

Portland Parks & Rec FTW!
Jamison Square is the bomb. Such a fun park!