Portland’s Waterfront Centerpiece
By John Gorman
What is arguably Portland’s most popular fountain for visitors?
Even the Portland Water Bureau agrees that there is no sure way to quantify which of Portland’s fountains are the most popular. They do not track visitors, and they do not require tickets or entrance fees—which is just another great reason to spend time enjoying the city’s beautiful fountains.
Still, as a lifelong Portland resident who over the years has spent plenty of summer days downtown, I have always enjoyed one fountain that almost always seems to be particularly well attended. It is a place where a wide circle of ground-based water jets arch cold columns of water together into the circle’s center, crashing into each other with spectacular visual results—and launching some especially refreshing mists into the breezy riverside air.
A centerpiece of Portland’s Waterfront Park along the beautiful Willamette River, Salmon Street Springs fountain was originally dedicated in 1988, but it was not officially named until a contest was held in 1989. Designed by Robert Perron Landscape Architects and Planners, the fountain is controlled by an underground computer that continually changes the pattern of the fountain's 185 water jets.
A fountain that keeps kids of all ages guessing.
Described as one of Portland’s “guessing fountains”—which tease viewers with combinations or variations of spray patterns—Salmon Street thrills young and old residents and visitors alike. On sunny summer days (and yes, Portland does have them), you always see people of all ages—including those in business attire from the nearby downtown district—strolling or running through the fountain, whether they are teasing the timing of the jets or deliberately trying to get soaked.
Interestingly, the fountains three cycles are named “Misters,” “Bollards” and “Wedding Cake.”
In 2004, the Water Bureau project replaced all the old cast-iron piping with heavy-duty PVC throughout the main drain vault. At full capacity, the fountain recycles 4,924 gallons of water per minute through as many as 137 jets at any one time.
The Salmon Street Springs Fountain is located at Salmon Street and Front Ave. Portland, OR 97205, in Waterfront Park, near the Portland Visitor’s Center.