Mill Ends Park  

45.516181, -122.673249 (OpenStreetMap, Google Maps, Yandex Maps)

Crosswalk at the intersection of SW Taylor St. and Pacific Hwy. W. Information board in the park
Number of letters “R” (“r”)
10

Historical background

Mill Ends park was founded in 1948 by the Oregon Journal columnist Dick Hagan. The park was named after his column "Mill Ends" (leftover irregular pieces of wood at lumber mills). The founder claimed that he captured the leprechaun here, which meant that he had earned a wish and Dick wished to have a park. This park is known to be the only leprechaun colony west of Ireland. In different years the park had a swimming pool, a ferris wheel and a statue of a flying saucer. In 2006 the whole park was moved 80 feet from its original location because of road construction, in the end of work he was returned back. In 2011 a protester was arrested in the park during "Occupy Portland" demonstrations. In 2013 the tree was stolen from park, but soon it was returned and placed near the replacement tree. Unfortunately Dick Hagan forgot to specify park size for his wish to leprechaun. In 1971 Mill Ends was officially recognized to be the smallest park in the World by Guinness Book of Records.

Present in routes of categories Lion, Lion-Mini, Griffin

Passed by: 30/59 (51%).

By categories:

  • Griffin: 6/10 (60%)
  • Lion: 13/29 (45%)
  • Lion-Mini: 11/20 (55%)