The History of Portland’s O'Bryant Square

PATREON: www.patreon.com/exploreoregon INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/pdxfilmexplorer FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/exploringportland TIKTOK:   / theamateurhistorian   REDDIT SUBREDDIT:   / the_amateur_historian   FIRST THINGS FIRST: So, after many years something's going awry with my mic set up. I've noticed a drastic increase in static sound and a periodic fluctuation in sound levels so I'm thinking the time has finally come to update some of my audio equipment. So sorry, there's a bit of static hiss here. That said, I am gradually producing a series of videos now about specific spots around Portland with a sketchy history. I consider my "Burger King on Burnside" video the first one of these and for my second one I am delving into the bizarre history of O'Bryant Square, standing smack in the middle of downtown Portland. Closed since March 2018 the future of the park lingers in question, but it's very likely that the park will be demolished at some point (even if it's just ultimately replaced with another park). Despite the fact that the property has sat fenced off for several years with minimal progress, the site has a very diverse history for just a small block in the city. There is a rich history, both dark and funny, to this park which opened back in 1973. In this video I will discuss the origins of the park, it's troubled connections to violent crime and drugs, some more comedic moments, and the square's final years leading up to its closure.