Parklane Park

In 1873, Francis Elliott claimed 640 acres through the Donation Land Claim Act that included the land the park is built on. The area was comprised of small family farms and orchards. The park site itself was vacant pasture land with some Douglas fir stands. At that time the road to Sandy traversed the Elliott family's property. When they eventually platted their land, they were required to dedicate a right-of-way which passed through the site where the gravel path exists today.

In the 1940s, Henry Troh opened a small airport called Troh’s Skypark on the current-day park site. The airport closed in the 1950s and was replaced by a sand and gravel quarry owned by the Oregon Asphaltic Paving Company. Gravel from the site helped to build the surrounding neighborhood. By 1984, the excavation reached the water table, and groundwater filled the quarry. The quarry was filled in the 1990s, largely with material excavated in the surrounding neighborhoods.

When the surrounding subdivisions were built in the 1970s, the 5-acre triangular parcel that is now Parklane Park, become a Multnomah County park. Local residents planted many of the trees, and installed red and white striped playground equipment, giving the park its nickname, Candy Cane Park. In 1993, the City of Portland acquired the park from Multnomah County. The 1996 Centennial Neighborhood Plan recommended acquisition of 20 acres to the north, the site of the former gravel quarry. In 2001, the City purchased the three additional parcels from the Oregon Asphaltic Paving Company. In 2009, the Parklane Park Master Plan was completed which created a community vision for the expanded park. 

In 2016, a Portland Loo was installed with funding from the 2014 Parks Replacement Bond. During her tenure as Parks Commissioner, Amanda Fritz launched the development of Parklane Park in 2018 with dedicated development funds. A community engagement process from Fall 2019-Summer 2020 created a design for the park that reflected the community's values and desires. 

Former Parks Commissioner Carmen Rubio added additional funding to complete the project after the COVID-19 pandemic led to significant cost escalations due to inflation, labor, and supply chain issues. Construction on the expanded park began in Spring 2023 and was completed in May 2025.