Pioneer Courthouse Square is where Portland comes together—residents and tourists, diners and coffee drinkers, activists and people watchers, or those just looking for a quiet seat in the sun.
Our nonprofit carries out a vision that goes back decades: an urban public space that helps downtown thrive, and a thriving downtown that is critical to the health of our city. In 1984, Friends of Pioneer Courthouse Square raised more than 1.5 million dollars selling engraved bricks for $15 apiece to ensure the park’s completion. Those bricks remain to this day, as does our practice of selling personalized bricks to new Portlanders to help fund the upkeep of The Square.
With more than 300 events per year, The Square is home to many of Portland’s favorite community traditions—from concerts, to festivals of food and drink, to cultural celebrations. It’s also a diverse, living canvas for Portlanders’ creativity and generosity. Integrated with the TriMet transit system, The Square is not just a destination, but a hub for exploring downtown, greater Portland, and beyond.
Our volunteer board brings together artists, cultural institutions, community leaders, neighbors, businesses, and civic organizations. Together, we help foster the civic role of The Square within the City of Portland and reflect the evolving needs of the community that it supports. Our bricks don’t just lay the foundation of Portland’s most popular urban park, but of the city itself.