Portland has the smallest park in the world

(OCTOBER 22, 2021) The year is 1948. Dick Fagan works at a newspaper in Portland. He writes stories about the city.

One day he sees a small circle in the street. “What is that?” Dick asks his friend.

“It is a hole. It is for a new street light,” says Dick’s friend.

Dick is a writer. He likes to tell stories. So Dick thinks of a better story about the hole in the street.

Dick looks at the hole again. Then his eyes grow big. In his mind, Dick imagines a little man in the hole! The little man is a leprechaun! The leprechaun points to the hole in the street. “Here is your park!” says the little man.

Dick pulls weeds. He plants flowers. He thinks it is the best park. “It’s a big park for little leprechauns,” Dick says. He calls it Mill Ends Park.

Dick writes many newspaper stories about Mill Ends Park. He says leprechauns live there. Many people read the stories in the newspaper. They all love the little park.

Mill Ends Park is the smallest park in the world. It is in downtown Portland at Southwest Taylor Street.

The park is closed for a short time. There is construction in the street. The city hopes the park will be open again in 2022.