Posted in Portland August 12, 2017 by Katherine Green

The Whimsical Park In Portland That Will Bring Out The Child In You

If you or your children grew up reading Beverly Cleary books, you are going to want to visit this whimsical park in Portland. The Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden is located on the west side of Northeast Portland’s Grant Park, and it features the most beloved characters from our local legend Beverly Cleary’s stories.

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Most well-known for her Ramona series of books, Beverly Cleary grew up in this neighborhood and played in Grant Park as a child.

Her character Ramona and friends lived on Klickitat Street, also in the neighborhood, and got in to plenty of fun and trouble in the fictionalized surrounding blocks.

The sculpture garden was dedicated in 1995, many years after the author made an indelible mark on so many young readers.

Henry Huggins, another leading character in Cleary's books, is featured here...

Cast in bronze by Portland artist Lee Hunt, these life-size statutes will transport you to childhood and reading along on the stories of fun and adventure of these kids.

Be sure to check out the map in the park which details where things in the stories "really happened."

If you visit during the summer, fountains splash around the kids and Ribsy, making it seem like you are right there playing along with them.

Take a stroll down memory lane at this fun park dedicated to one of our city’s most beloved authors for a fun and relaxing day with your inner child. Grant Park is located at NE 33rd Avenue and NE Brazee Street.