Terry Schrunk Plaza

Terry Schrunk Plaza
Amphitheater area of the park, 2010
Map
LocationPortland, Oregon, United States
Coordinates45°30′53″N 122°40′41″W / 45.5146°N 122.678°W / 45.5146; -122.678

Terry Schrunk Plaza is a park located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Located in between the Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building and Portland City Hall, and adjacent to the Plaza Blocks, it is owned and operated by the federal government.

History

In 1972, The Oregonian published an artist's conception for a "Federal Plaza" to be built across from the Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building. The park was constructed from 1974 to 1977, with a dedication held in 1977.[1][2]

The park was named for former Portland mayor Terry Schrunk, thanks in part to a recommendation to President Gerald Ford by US Senators Mark Hatfield and Bob Packwood.[3]

Planned assassination

The plaza covers an underground parking structure for the adjacent federal building.[4] That structure was the planned assassination site of Charles H. Turner in the failed plot by members of the Rajneeshees in 1985 to kill Turner, the U.S. Attorney for Oregon who worked in the building.[5]

Features

There are several Taihu stones in the plaza which is a gift from Portland's Chinese sister city, Suzhou in 1996.[6]

The park also features a memorial plaque honoring Vietnam veterans.[1]

  • Taihu stones from Portland's sister city Suzhou, China
    Taihu stones from Portland's sister city Suzhou, China
  • Closeup of the Taihu stones
    Closeup of the Taihu stones
  • The plaza after a snowstorm in 2014
    The plaza after a snowstorm in 2014
  • A close-up of the amphitheater
    A close-up of the amphitheater
  • Vietnam Veterans memorial plaque
    Vietnam Veterans memorial plaque
  • Sign for the Plaza
    Sign for the Plaza

References

  1. ^ a b Brx0 (2012-12-24). "Terry Schrunk Plaza". cyclotram. Retrieved 2024-07-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Terry Schrunk (1913-1975)". www.oregonencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  3. ^ "1976/10/11 S1971 Terry Schrunk Plaza" (PDF). Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
  4. ^ Trujillo, Laura; Erin Hoover; Bryan Smith (April 20, 1996). "Portland dedicates memorial". The Oregonian. p. A1.
  5. ^ Painter, Jr., John (June 30, 1991). "Death-Plot Facts Come To Light". The Oregonian. p. C01.
  6. ^ "Lake Tai Rock - Portland, OR, USA - Gifts from Other Countries on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
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