100 Parks
The Portland Memory Garden is a demonstration garden project created as part of the “100 Parks, 100 Years” centennial celebration of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Of the eight Memory Gardens that were built as part of this celebration, only one other is located in a city park on public land.
The Development Team
Many different organizations came together to make this garden a reality: The ASLA, the Alzheimer’s Association, The Center of Design for an Aging Society, Legacy Health System, Portland Bureau of Parks and Recreation, and the Institute on Aging/School of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University. The team also worked closely with the area’s neighborhood associations to develop a design that was responsive to the needs of their community.
The team was particularly strong because of the cooperation of many different disciplines, including landscape architects and designers with prior design experience in planning sensory and therapeutic gardens, as well as a horticultural therapist and an environmental psychologist, a specialist in design for older adults, and experts in Alzheimer’s disease.
A Community Comes Together
One always hopes that a project like the Portland Memory Garden can bring together those who see its value and simply want to be part of making it happen. More than 50 local suppliers and contractors donated their services, along with three youth programs: The Boy Scouts, Youth Builders, and AIM High School.
The garden is a true testimonial to what can happen when diverse public, private, and non-profit organizations, and individual volunteers come together in the spirit of creating a better community.
Officers
President: Brian Bainnson, ASLA
Secretary: Tara Hicks, BS, HTR
Treasurer: Christopher Mandeville
Board Members
Patty Cassidy, MA, HTR
(Former President)
Troy Dunn
Georgi Dwiggins
Gary Miranda
Claire O'Laughlin, PhD
(Former President)
About the Garden
Friends of the Portland Memory Garden is qualified as a charitable organization
under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. EIN: 80-0178710
Contributions are tax-deductible.
We recognize our power and responsibility to be intentional in our decision making, therefore we are transparent
with donations, grants, and other financial information. Please contact us for more information.
10401 SE Bush Street, Portland, OR 97266 friendspmg@gmail.com
To enhance the lives of individuals with memory disorders and their caregivers by maintaining the Portland Memory Garden, involving the larger community, and providing therapeutic and educational activities.
For a six-minute slide tour of the Garden with narrative, click HERE.
PORTLAND MEMORY GARDEN
FPMG Board Members
Our Mission
We invite those of you who use the garden regularly and those who live in the area to join the Friends of the Portland Memory Garden and become part of the rich community spirit that has allowed the garden to flourish. We need people to do a variety of tasks, including coordination of the volunteers, gardening, fundraising, and promotion of the garden. To get involved, simply send an email with your name, address, and phone number to friendspmg@gmail.com indicating in what capacity you may be able to help. Come join the fun!
The Friends of the Portland Memory Garden (FPMG)
was informally founded in 2001 as a small group of volunteers, and was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2008. FPMG is proud to be the steward organization of this unique and remarkable resource for those living with memory loss, their families and caregivers, and anyone who chooses to visit, enjoy, and be restored.