Global InformationDarcelle XV Plaza information
| Darcelle XV Plaza | |
|---|---|
 Park signage in 2014 | |
 | |
| Location | SW Park Ave. and Washington St. Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 45°31′17″N 122°40′48″W / 45.521435°N 122.679918°W |
| Area | 0.46 acres (0.19 ha) |
| Created | 1973 |
| Operated by | Portland Parks & Recreation |
Darcelle XV Plaza (formerly O'Bryant Square)[1] is a square that was a small park and fountain at the intersection of Southwest Park Avenue and Southwest Harvey Milk Street in downtown Portland, Oregon, in the United States. It received the current name in July 2023. It was named after Hugh O'Bryant, Portland's first mayor.[2][3]
The park has also been known as "Paranoid Park",[4][5] "Paranoia Park",[5] "Needle Park",[6] and "Crack Park".[5] Aaron Mesh, writing for Willamette Week on an article discussing plans for a park space in Northwest District described city's reluctance to commit to a plaza because "junkie haven O'Bryant Square, or "Paranoid Park"—have been a security hassle."[4]
Darcelle XV Plaza was home to Fountain to a Rose, a bronze fountain in the shape of a rose.[7]
- ^ "Darcelle XV Plaza | Portland.gov". www.portland.gov. Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
- ^ Erickson, Steve (April 7, 1982). "Mayor leads 'Happy (131st) Birthday' Portland". The Oregonian. p. B1.
- ^ "Portland closes O'Bryant Square and underground garage 'indefinitely' for safety concerns". OregonLive.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-15. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
- ^ a b Mesh, Aaron (5 Jun 2012). "Welcome to Con-way Town". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
The Parks Bureau is reluctant to commit to a plaza, since the ones downtown—including junkie haven O'Bryant Square, or "Paranoid Park"—have been a security hassle.
- ^ a b c Hewitt, Lyndsey. "Downtown business owners support new homeless shelter, but apprehensive". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on 2016-11-17. Retrieved 2019-04-11.
- ^ Gragg, Randy (March 21, 1999). "Little Park Needs Less-Is-More Vision: Bring Less 'Vision' To Pocket Park; Park Block 5 Can Be An Urban Jewel, Unless Planners Cram In Too Many Amenities". The Oregonian.
it could turn into another O'Bryant Square, another missing Park Block now unofficially known as "Needle Park."
- ^ "Darcelle XV Plaza | Portland.gov". www.portland.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-28.