Dawson Park Historic Boulders Project
In 2014, Dawson Park received improvements that included a new playground, picnic tables, pathways, lighting, plantings, and a splash pad with 12 historical story boulders. The existing boulders cover the following historic themes: the Hill Block, 1963 Medgar Evers Memorial Freedom March, civil rights, local music, local involvement in the 1963 Washington Jobs and Freedom March, protest marches and rallies, park development, local commerce and markets, Robert Kennedy's visit, summer concerts and events, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1961 visit to Portland, and the local playground.
More recently, Bernie Foster, Co-founder and Publisher of The Skanner News, requested adding a boulder to recognize the contributions of local Black newspapers such as The Skanner News, The Observer, and dozens of other newspapers over Portland's history. Funding was approved by City Council, and the new boulder with its photo etched stainless steel imagery plate will be installed in the coming months. The original project team has been reunited for this effort, with the addition of local Black historian Kimberly Moreland for the historical research efforts.
Additionally, the existing 12 historical story stainless steel plates that have become scratched up will be replaced with this project, and some restoration work will be done on the boulders.
During the week of December 16, 2024, the existing steel plates and boulders will be removed temporarily from the park for off-site restoration work. The installation of the updated plates and renovated boulders is expected to occur between April - May 2025 to avoid the busy summer season in the park. None of the removal or installation work will impact use of the rest of the park's amenities.
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