South West Hills Residential League

Rededication of Council Crest Park

Mar 14, 2000

1998 was Council Crest Park?’s centennial year as the Reverend Dr. Hallock of Portland, Maine suggested the name in the summer of 1898 while attending a conference in Portland, Oregon.

Upon completion of the many improvements made to the park during 1998 and 1999 made possible by the passage of the 1994 bond measure, the Portland parks and Recreation along with SWHRL believed a celebration was appropriate.

On Sunday afternoon, September 19, 1999 between the hours of 1:30 ?– 3:30 PM an ice cream social was held at the park. It was a beautiful sunny day and the views of the city and the various mountains, including the Coast Range, were spectacular. Judging by the number of ice creams sundaes served, approximately 350 people turned out although many children enjoyed several. A good time was had by all.

City Commissioner Jim Francesconi headed up a delegation and blue ribbon ceremony. The delegation included some of the Parks and Recreation project managers and SWHRL board members, along with artist Jerry Mayer and writer Robin Cody, who teamed up to develop the interpretive components. After several short speeches were made, the ribbon was cut and Jim Francesconi rededicated the park to public use for another century.

The primary improvements made in the park relate to the following:

Hilltop: The brick walled vista circle was completely rebuilt using a natural looking basalt stone. A bronze compass was set in the center with an outer ring of granite inscribed with historic reference. A new pathway from the circle winds southwest to a small space for the Littman Fountain. This fountain relocation is a more prominent and accessible site.

Access: A new sidewalk from Talbot Road along Greenway and Council Crest Drive to the park entrance was constructed. Some money was raised for the project by the selling of bricks to members of the community by SWHRL. Without the support, there would have been no sidewalk. Once inside the park, this walkway continues around to the Marquam trailhead. A new path from the Mt. Zion entry (Fairmount & Talbot intersection) to the existing asphalt roadbed and continuing to the new sidewalk at the Council Crest entrance was built. A path from the Mt. Zion entry directly up to the Vista Circle was also constructed.
Irrigation: A new automatic irrigation system replaced the existing manual system within the hilltop area and the outer perimeter. This should reflect in a much greener and prettier grass landscape.

Interpretive Signage and Artwork : Jerry Mayer and Robin Cody have done an outstanding job in capturing the rich history and the sense of place with their interpretive signage and artwork. An inscription at one viewpoint will relate about the importance of the reverse, then and now. Another will send the visitor back in time to 1909 when an amusement park on the top of the crest was in its prime - yet another site on the old trolley stop at the Mt. Zion station and there are several others.

If you have not visited the park in the last couple of years, you will be pleasantly surprised undertaking such a field trip. Pick a nice sunny clear day and take the time to read all the inscriptions and enjoy the view.