Lovejoy Fountain

The Lovejoy Fountain is located between 3rd and 4th on SW Hall in Portland, Oregon. This fountain was designed by Lawrence Halprin and Associates this stair-step fountain in 1968 for the Portland Development Commission. The fountain celebrates the waterfalls and landscapes of the Northwest. The name of the fountain came from Asa Lovejoy who co-founded Portland with Francis Pettygrove.

Built in 1968, The Lovejoy Fountain Plaza was created by Halprin’s ingenuity. Halprin had a vast experience which included working at various scales from sculptural fountains to urban renewal designs and regional planning. The solid and variety of expertise allowed Halprin to create landscapes featuring beautiful water fountains to be enjoyed by all parts of society. This designer is known for incorporating artwork into the overall scheme of the existing environment. To Halprin, the design process was equally important as the final product.

The Lovejoy Fountain is an organic landform contoured into the overall landscape of the Plaza. And Portland’s Lovejoy Fountain Plaza is a prime example of Halprin’s methodological design methods. The varying and multilevel concrete staircases add to the modern feel of this urban architecture.

Halprin undoubtedly anticipated the final use of this fountain masterpiece by strategically placing the fountain amongst lush, towering trees and immersing it in the middle of a natural park like setting. The Lovejoy Fountain Plaza is the perfect place to share a romantic and relaxing picnic during one of Portland’s famously mild spring afternoons.

As always, taking precaution is advised while enjoying this fountain. Like all streams and waterfalls, slippery surfaces, rapidly moving water, pools of water, and high drop-offs require careful attention. Sightseers are advised to stay back from edges due to falling hazard.