Portland Memory Garden refreshing all year long

By David F. Ashton

The Gresham Outlook, Jul 30, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

David F. Ashton

Friends of Portland Memory Garden board members LuAnn Cook, Edie Polson, Julie Brown, Patty Cassidy (president), Nancy Chapman, and Eunice Noell-Waggoner pause for this photo during their recent meeting at the garden.

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It’s not easy to spot the Portland Memory Garden, located on the east end of Ed Benedict Park, as one drives eastbound on Southeast Powell Boulevard past Southeast 104th Avenue. But, this park is unique in the greater Portland area – both in its design and its purpose.

“This garden is a very special place,” said Patty Cassidy, president of Friends of Portland Memory Garden, “in that it was specifically designed to be a place where Alzheimer’s patients and people under memory care – and their caregivers – can come and get some respite.”

Cassidy said this public garden is a Portland Parks & Recreation facility, built with special design features to accommodate people with memory issues. “For example, the garden is designed in a circular pattern, so people can’t get lost. The Gateway building, when you walk in, is a way-finding point that can be easily seen from anywhere within the garden.”

A four-season garden

The garden, Cassidy told us, was started in 1998 and was completed in 2001.

“This is a four-season garden,” Cassidy said. “Every season, every day of the year, there are wonderful botanical features here to be experienced. Even in the darkest days of January, you can see twigs budding, greens sprouting and even see some plants that are in bloom. We made this a garden that has rich and lush horticultural features.”

Provides positive

sensory experiences

More that just being a pretty place to visit, Cassidy added that the garden provides therapeutic value for people experiencing memory loss. Cassidy should know – she’s a professional horticultural therapy specialist, who got her required practicum clinical hours by helping to develop the garden. Now, in addition to being the president of the garden’s friends group, she continues to help with events.

Unique design welcomes all

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