Tanner Springs Park

The City of Portland, Oregon, chose to go down this ecological path with the regeneration of an old, industrial downtown city neighbourhood, the Pearl District.

The park is like a viewport to the past. The long-forgotten wetland habitat is restored to the full glory of its plants and animals. Little springs bubble up at the top of a large open grassy meadow, trickling down to a wetland pond, sunken 1.8 meters below street level.

More than 300 citizens were involved in three public events where art, imaginative brainstorming and planning workshops informed and inspired the design process. The park represents the authentic fulfillment of aspirations and desires from a diverse community.

A floating pontoon gracefully traverses the water, seemingly gliding over its concealed and ever-changing depths. On one side of the pond, historic railroad tracks, aptly referred to as the 'Art Wall,' create a striking visual with a juxtaposition of the enduring solidity of the rail tracks against the flexible and undulating motion of the wall. This dynamic structure gracefully oscillates inward and outward, with its top rising and falling, creating a harmonious contrast symbolic of the city's historical fabric.

The Art Wall is 60 metres long and composed of 368 rails. 99 pieces of fused glass are inset with images of dragonflies, spiders, amphibians and insects like animals captured in amber, creatures of times and habitats long gone. The images were hand-painted by artist Herbert Dreiseitl directly on Portland glass, which was then fused and melted to achieve the final effect.

Tanner Springs Park is a model of embracing historic local ecology and demonstrating sustainable practices. Three of the sides of the sunken park are lined with steps allowing a terraced, permeable edge for visitors to enter, exit, and sit. It successfully brings together visitors and residents to the former ecology and explains the rich local history of the area.