Colonel Summers Park


Colonel Summers Park is a city park in the Southeast Portland, Oregon neighborhood of Buckman. The park was created in 1921 and was originally called Belmont Park for Belmont Street which runs east-west on its boundary. In 1938 it was renamed in honor of Colonel Owen Summers, who as an Oregon legislator, introduced a bill that combined the state militia units into the Oregon National Guard. Colonel Summers was the commanding officer of a volunteer regiment in the Spanish–American War, which served in forty-two different engagements during the war. The park includes recreation areas and a community garden added in 1975.

Amenities

accessible picnic area, basketball court, paths – paved, picnic shelter, picnic site – reservable, picnic tables, playground, softball field, statue or public art, tennis backboard, tennis court, and volleyball court. In the southwest corner of the park, there is a large rock with Colonel Owen Summers plaque attached to it. The rock came from Kelly Butte.

History

The park was originally opened as Belmont Park. It was renamed to the current name in 1938 in honor of Colonel Owen Summers who was a former Oregon Legislature member.