A dog park, a stage and arty lighting will glamify the new Darcelle XV Plaza in Portland which is set to open later this month.
“People talk about Pioneer Courthouse Square as the city’s living room, and so folks were talking about this being the Queer living room,” said Maija Spencer, a Community Engagement Coordinator for the city of Portland.
The park lies on Harvey Milk Street, a happy coincidence, according to Spencer.
“Could you make that any better? It was the most poetic thing I could think of when I finally realized it,” she said. “That wasn't necessarily intentional, it was just where these two things converged.”
In addition to a dog park, there is a stage for events, a walk of fame and a giant pink shade in the shape of a triangle.
The plaza will also have fencing for safety that will be locked when the park closes as well as “artful” lighting.
“It's pretty open, wide sightlines, good lighting,” Spencer said.
Spencer added the plaza is surrounded by businesses and offices that add to the sense of security and add bring people into the area.
“Different businesses and offices around are looking down on the site, so it's largely surrounded by tall buildings, with ground level businesses,” she said. “I was excited to see there's a new vintage clothing shop. It literally just opened a week or two ago across the street, that will also provide good daytime activities.”
The plaza will open later in June, with a soft launch June 18.
The soft opening will have a choir, speeches from local leaders including the mayor, and a ribbon cutting ceremony. Drag Queen Poison Waters will emcee.
The park will then close for further construction until June 25, where there will be a grand opening celebration.
“That's more of a glitz and glam, less speakers, more party,” said Spencer.
Other events are already scheduled at the plaza including a mass wedding and vow renewal during Portland Pride in July.
“There'll be, it's an opportunity for folks to either renew their vows or get married in the park in one big day, and they're going to be hanging out Voodoo Doughnuts,” she said. “It’ll be very Portland.”
The plaza is replacing the O'Bryant Square, a park and underground parking lot, which was found to be structurally unstable. The park was renamed in July 2023 and has been undergoing renovation since.
"Darcelle XV Plaza is a new gem in the heart of our magnificent city," said Portland Mayor Keith Wilson in a press release. "Its design embodies Portland's long-standing dedication to inclusive, vibrant public spaces and provides a welcoming destination for the LGBTQ2SIA+ community and all Portlanders."
The site was reportedly where W.C. Overton and Asa Lovejoy agreed to found Portland in 1843.
"By renaming O'Bryant Square to Darcelle XV Plaza, we are embracing and celebrating the indelible contributions of Darcelle XV to our city's LGBTQ+ community," said Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan when the park was officially renamed.
Darcelle XV was the first Drag Queen on the west coast. Darcelle also founded Darcelle XV Showplace, which is recognized as the longest running Drag show on the west coast.
Darcelle, born Walter Cole, purchased the Showplace in 1967, after coming out as gay and separating from his wife. Darcelle helped push for civil rights for gay and lesbian Portlanders, helping raise money for LGBT advocacy group Portland Town Council.
Later, in the 1990s, Darcelle again helped raise money to support people fighting AIDS.
Often dressing in sequins and diamonds, Darcelle became an icon in Portland.
“What Darcelle did was use art and performance to make changes in our community to bring people together,” Spencer said. “That's kind of the same thing that we wanted to do in Portland Parks and Recreation.”
Darcelle published her memoir “Just Call Me Darcelle” in 2010 and served as Portland Pride Grand Marshal that same year. In 2020, Darcelle’s became the first LGBTQ+ site in Oregon to be added to the National Register of Historic Places.
“It's just really an honor for the city of Portland and Portland Parks and Recreation to honor Darcelle and that history and legacy,” she said. “It's just an honor to be able to celebrate that legacy with the community.”
Darcelle passed away in March 2023.
