Portland Firefighters Park
Portland Firefighters Park Map
About Portland Firefighters Park in Portland
Portland Firefighters Park is a small triangular public space located in downtown Portland, Oregon at the intersection of SW 18th Avenue and Burnside Street. The park's centerpiece is the David Campbell Memorial, dedicated in 1928 to honor Portland Fire Chief David Campbell, who died in the line of duty in 1911.
The memorial, designed by renowned architect Paul Philippe Cret, features a fountain and pool constructed of Caen stone, a light-colored limestone imported from France. A bronze bas-relief portrait of Chief Campbell adorns the fountain head, along with the inscription "Greater love hath no man than this." The memorial also includes bronze plaques commemorating other Portland firefighters who lost their lives in service.
Surrounding the memorial is a grassy area that makes up the eastern half of the triangular space. While officially considered part of the park, this section was added after the memorial's construction and is considered a non-contributing resource to its historical significance. The entire park area is city right-of-way, owned by the city of Portland but not maintained by Portland Parks and Recreation. Instead, care for the park is provided by the David Campbell Memorial Association.
The park serves as a place of remembrance and reflection, honoring the sacrifices made by Portland's firefighters. Each June, a memorial ceremony is held at the site to pay tribute to fallen firefighters. In 2010, the David Campbell Memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its historical and architectural importance to the city of Portland.