Wallace Park Nature Patch
This summer, Portland Parks & Recreation staff will create a nature patch at Wallace Park featuring rain gardens, flower beds, and natural placemaking elements.
Several areas around the park will be converted to natural landscaping with flowering native plants, stormwater swales and rain gardens, logs, boulders, and split-rail fencing.
Natural garden beds and stormwater facilities will help capture the large volume of rain that flows off the park. Capturing rainwater in the park is especially important during storms to reduce flooding in nearby streets and to help prevent the public sewer system from being overwhelmed by dirty stormwater.
This project is funded exclusively by a Percent for Green grant provided by Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services. This grant supports large-scale green infrastructure projects that provide broad benefits for watershed health and the community.
Timeline: Landscape alteration is expected to begin this summer, with 2-3 weeks of phased construction activity and minimal disruption to park use/access from July to September. Community planting events will be held through winter 2026.
Do you have suggestions or questions? Please contact the project manager here.
Learn more about Nature Patches in Portland
Portland Parks & Recreation is adding nature patches to developed park landscapes to provide natural experiences for people and habitat for wildlife. Nature patches are unique natural garden spaces that support native pollinators and offer fun opportunities for education and exploration.
This park is named for Hugh W. Wallace, the city councilman responsible for getting the property allocated as a city park. A search of the park and school yard will reveal a curious collection of 11 bronze objects tucked away in unexpected places. Entitled Eleven Very Small Sculptures, they were created by artist Bill Will in 1998. Another art installation in the park is a 1980 sculpture by Manuel Izquierdo called Silver Dawn. Izquierdo is professor emeritus of Pacific Northwest College of Art.
Accessibility Notes
Parking
- Street parking
- 2 designated parking spaces
- Paved pathway to play area
- 50 feet to play area
Play Area
- Rubberized surface
- Ramp into play area
Play Equipment
- Transfer station
- Sensory play elements
- Adapted high-back swing
- Ramp onto play structure
Other Amenities
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible picnic table