Colonel Summers Park
Colonel Summers Park is a city park in the Southeast Portland, Oregon neighborhood of Buckman. The park was created in 1921 and was originally called Belmont Park for Belmont Street which runs east-west on its boundary. In 1938 it was renamed in honor of Colonel Owen Summers, who as an Oregon legislator, introduced a bill that combined the state militia units into the Oregon National Guard. Colonel Summers was the commanding officer of a volunteer regiment in the Spanish–American War, which served in forty-two different engagements during the war.[1] The park includes recreation areas and a community garden added in 1975.[2]
| Colonel Summers Park | |
|---|---|
 Colonel Summers Park pavilion in August 2019 | |
| |
| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Area | 4.73 acres (1.91 ha) |
| Operated by | Portland Parks & Recreation |
| Open | 5 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily |
| Website | https://www.portland.gov/parks/colonel-summers-park |
Amenities
accessible picnic area, basketball court, paths – paved, picnic shelter, picnic site – reservable, picnic tables, playground, softball field, statue or public art, tennis backboard, tennis court, and volleyball court. In the southwest corner of the park, there is a large rock with Colonel Owen Summers plaque attached to it. The rock came from Kelly Butte.[3]
Splash pad completed in September 2017.
Colonel Owen Summers plaque at the southwest corner of the park.
History
The park was originally opened as Belmont Park. It was renamed to the current name in 1938 in honor of Colonel Owen Summers who was a former Oregon Legislature member.[3]
In May 2013, complaints about crime, underage drinking and drug activity at the park prompted a community meeting.[4] Prior to the meeting, the parks department issued a statement that they have been working with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and the Portland Police Bureau[5] At the meeting, Portland Parks & Recreation, the police and Buckman residents discussed eliminating the outlaws and maintaining the community appeal.[6]
See also
References
- "Colonel Summers Park". Portland Parks and Recreation.
- "Colonel Summers Community Garden". Portland Parks and Recreation.
- "Colonel Summers Park | The City of Portland, Oregon". www.portlandoregon.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
- Beaven, Steve (2013-05-23). "Colonel Summers Park; Patton Oswalt: Southeast Portland news". oregonlive. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
- Beaven, Steve (2013-05-22). "Portland Parks & Recreation will meet with Buckman residents Thursday to discuss Colonel Summers Park". oregonlive. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
- Beaven, Steve (2013-05-25). "At Colonel Summers Park, neighbors and the city are working to stem drug use and underage drinking". oregonlive. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
