Tennis & pickleball courts
Reserve outdoor courts through PP&R's registration system.
South Portland · District 4 · Mid-size park · 3.3 acres
Lair Hill Park
Developed parkPublic entry documented
The captured official page publishes visiting hours. Check the source for current closures. Public-entry status is separate from wheelchair accessibility.
Classification and evidence
Official page label: Park; Atlas classification rules. Classification: inferred.
Source captured: 2026-06-02. Human verification: Pending.
Check current official informationConfirm the inferred property type with PP&R.
Published activities: let my kids play, sit down to eat, and walk or roll on pavement.
Photo from the City's park pagePark history
This park was given to the city by Multnomah County in 1927. The surrounding neighborhhod and the park were named after William Lair Hill (1838-1924), a pioneer attorney, historian, and newspaper editor who briefly owned the property in that area. Hill was responsible for codifying Oregon laws between 1882 and 1887.
Two buildings of historical interest are located in the park. The main building was constructed out of brick in 1918 in the Modified Georgian Revival style, with prominent brick quoining, gently arched windows with stone keystones, and dentils at the eave - and served as a dormitory for nurses working at the county hospital. In 1942, the State Architect's Office extensively remodeled it to serve as the Youth Administration of the Federal Security Agency. In 1949, the Park Bureau created a Junior Museum in the building, later renamed the Children's Museum, until it was relocated to the former OMSI building in Washington Park in 2001.
The smaller building, the Customs House, was built in 1921 as a branch of the county library. The building, Italian Renaissance Revival, is one of seven Carnegie-funded branch libraries in Portland. It was designed by Folger Johnson, of Johnson & Wallwork, who designed four of the seven Portland Carnegie branches. The prominent arched windows and the curved entrance flanked by columns are typical of Italian Renaissance style. On the interior, a broken pediment appears below the circular window and Corinthian columns flank the wings. The library housed a collection of books in Yiddish, German, Polish, and Italian, as well as English before being converted to an art center by the Park Bureau in the early 1950s. Today the building is used as office space for PP&R staff.
At the west end of the park, a sculpture of metal boulders by local artist Bruce West represents a rock grotto that once stood in the park and provided a shady place where older men gathered on hot summer days to play chess. It was installed in 1978 and is entitled simply BW1.
From the City's page for this park.
Visitor amenities
Published amenities are checked separately from entry conditions. Each links to other documented locations; confirm current hours before visiting.
…stay a while
- sit down to eatPicnic table
…play
- let my kids playPlayground
- let every kid playAccessible play area
…compete
- play on a courtAny sport court
- play tennisTennis court
…get here and move
- be in a parkAny park
- walk or roll on pavementPaved path
…remember and belong
- see public artPublic art
- reach an emergency nodeEmergency BEECN node
Potential additions to investigate
Passing the initial size-and-type screen is not a feasibility finding. Usable space, existing uses, habitat, public access, utilities, permission, construction costs, and ongoing maintenance funding require site-specific review. Missing acreage or uncertain classification remains unassessed.
Enabling assets recorded
- Youth drop-in — Free unstructured play with somewhere for adults to sit.
- Nature education — Environmental programs and guided walks.
- All-weather indoor — Programming that survives a Portland winter.
One addition to investigate
- Evening use — needs restroom
- League play — needs restroom
- Summer water play — needs splash pad or wading pool or all swimming pools or interactive fountain
- Markets & festivals — needs restroom
Inventory-based screening only. Recorded assets do not establish opening hours, program staffing, permission, or operating funding. Potential additions require review of usable space, habitat, utilities, access, and ongoing maintenance. Unverified properties remain unassessed.
What else should this park let you do?
Something specific to this park — the thing you'd use it for if it were here.
Send an idea for this park →School grounds nearby
Public school grounds within a half mile, by straight line. What is listed is what OpenStreetMap mappers have recorded, not an inventory. The district sets public access.
- The Cottonwood School · 0.5 acres0.3 mi
Nothing recorded inside the grounds yet.
Beyond parks explains what opening a school ground would take.
School grounds: Metro RLIS. Features inside them: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Through the year
Seasonal facilities and listings captured by the Atlas. These records do not measure attendance, utilization or all activity at the site.
Counts describe captured listings, not attendance or all activity. No listings captured does not mean the site is unused.
Winter
Dec–Feb
Dark by 5 and wet most days: cover, lighting, indoor rooms, and paths that drain.
- walk or roll on pavement
- sit down to eat
- be in a park
- let my kids play
- let every kid play
- play on a court
+3 more
- play tennis
- see public art
- reach an emergency node
0 programs · 0 events starts captured
Fewest modeled facilities
Spring
Mar–May
Fields and gardens open; showers between sun. Leagues, planting, first picnics.
- let my kids play
- sit down to eat
- be in a park
- let every kid play
- play on a court
- play tennis
+3 more
- walk or roll on pavement
- see public art
- reach an emergency node
0 programs · 0 events starts captured
Summer
Jun–Aug
Water, shade, long evenings — the season the system is built around.
- sit down to eat
- be in a park
- let my kids play
- let every kid play
- play on a court
- play tennis
+3 more
- walk or roll on pavement
- see public art
- reach an emergency node
0 programs · 0 events starts captured
Fall
Sep–Nov
Light shortens and leagues wind down; shelters and lighting carry the season.
- sit down to eat
- be in a park
- let my kids play
- let every kid play
- play on a court
- play tennis
+3 more
- walk or roll on pavement
- see public art
- reach an emergency node
0 programs · 0 events starts captured
What the record holds here, by season
| Season | Programs | Recurring events | One-time |
|---|---|---|---|
Winter Dec–Feb Not yet published | — | — | — |
Spring Mar–May Recorded from 2026-06-11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Summer Jun–Aug Recorded from 2026-06-11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fall Sep–Nov Recorded through 2026-10; 1 month still to come | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Our reading of the calendar
Which facilities count as in season is our model of Portland's year (splash pads and wading pools in summer; fields, gardens and interactive fountains spring through fall; everything else year-round) — not the City's schedule. Check posted hours for pools, splash pads, and restrooms. From 16 weekly catalog snapshots (2026-06-11 to 2026-10-12). "Programs" are distinct titles; "sections" are the catalog's individual records — a swim level at one time slot for one week is one section. Complete through 2026-10; later months fill in as registration opens. Winter counts fill in when winter registration opens.
What's on
No current listings were captured and matched to this property. This does not establish that no activity takes place. See the citywide calendar and programs.
Reserve at Lair Hill Park
This park has facilities you can reserve. Booking happens on the city's official systems — every link below goes straight there.
Partners & friends
The whole ecosystemOpportunity signal
No known partner is currently linked to Lair Hill Park in the Partnership Atlas. This is an opportunity signal, not an official priority.
See opportunity signalsSupport this park
Real ways to help Lair Hill Park and parks like it. This site does not process donations; every link below goes to an official giving or volunteering channel.
Donate via Portland Parks FoundationThe independent nonprofit philanthropic partner for Portland's parks. Gifts support parks and programs citywide.Volunteer with Portland Parks & RecreationJoin official PP&R volunteer and stewardship programs, from work parties to ongoing roles.Find park partners and friends groupsDozens of community organizations steward specific Portland parks. See who works where.
How it's holding up
The City's own inventory of what is here and the condition it last recorded for each item. Dates are the source's; old dates mean no newer public assessment, not that nothing has happened since. Historical project estimates appear below; they are separate from these condition records.
Historical cost profile · 2023 reporting
Lair Hill Park
Includes: Lair Hill Building
$10.5M
13 distinct source rows. Proposed repair and improvement costs, not a current funding gap.
All-in annual service cost: Not established
Current remaining repair cost: Not verified
What the estimates cover
Roofs & buildings$5.3M
Other / mixed scope$4.6M
Courts, fields & golf$253.6K
Paths & access$191.1K
Energy & building systems$99.3K
Categories are Atlas labels based on project titles. Expansion and new provision are included where proposed; a project can include several kinds of work.
The work, cost & reason (13 source rows)
Seismic/ Structural$4,644,224
Asset as named in source: Lair Hill Building
Either renovate the building for new program, or remove from portfolio. Needs seismic upgrade if planned for reuse.
KGW table row 541. Source field: “Escalated Estimate.” Estimate date, inflation basis, funded amount and completion status are not supplied.
Original source table ↗Renovate the Roof of Special Facility building$4,341,043
Asset as named in source: Lair Hill Building
Fix or replace the Roof that is rated 4 through buildings' assessment
KGW table row 542. Source field: “Escalated Estimate.” Estimate date, inflation basis, funded amount and completion status are not supplied.
Original source table ↗Renovate the Roof of Administration building$876,447
Asset as named in source: Carnegie Annex
Fix or replace the Roof that is rated 4 through buildings' assessment
KGW table row 536. Source field: “Escalated Estimate.” Estimate date, inflation basis, funded amount and completion status are not supplied.
Original source table ↗Renovate Tennis sport court at Lair Hill Park$253,583
Asset as named in source: Tennis Court
Fix or replace the Asphalt surface of the court that is rated 4 through courts' assessment
KGW table row 544. Source field: “Escalated Estimate.” Estimate date, inflation basis, funded amount and completion status are not supplied.
Original source table ↗Pathway Renovation$141,126
Asset as named in source: Lair Hill Park
Replace the damaged pathway, trails and sidewalks that have been rated as 4 and 5 in Pathway assessment
KGW table row 545. Source field: “Escalated Estimate.” Estimate date, inflation basis, funded amount and completion status are not supplied.
Original source table ↗Renovate electrical and mechanical equipment$50,000
Asset as named in source: Liar Hill Building and Carnegie annex
Electrical and mechanical equipment’s passed 25 year of service and need to replace.
KGW table row 537. Source field: “Escalated Estimate.” Estimate date, inflation basis, funded amount and completion status are not supplied.
Original source table ↗Workspace- MEP and interior development$50,000
Asset as named in source: Carnegie Annex, ID-183
Project components: Improvement Type: Building, Category: MEP, Subcategory: Plumbing - Laundry, Description: Add Laundry (Need W/D), Invest#: 183.03 Improvement Type: Building, Category: Interior, Subcategory: Mudroom Functions, Description: Add mudroom function (Environmental Education), Invest#: 183.02 Improvement Type: Building, Category: Storage, Subcategory: NA, Description: Additional Storage (Environmental Education), Invest#: 183.05 Improvement Type: Building, Category: Interior, Subcategory: Meeting Room, Description: Meeting Space, Invest#: 183.04 Improvement Type: Building, Category: MEP, Subcategory: Plumbing - shower, Description: Shower on Site, Invest#: 183.06
KGW table row 538. Source field: “Escalated Estimate.” Estimate date, inflation basis, funded amount and completion status are not supplied.
Original source table ↗Workspace- ADA assessment for building and restrooms$50,000
Asset as named in source: Carnegie Annex, ID-183
Improvement Type: Building, Category: Accessibility, Subcategory: ADA, Description: Perform ADA assessment for building and restrooms, Invest#: 183.07
KGW table row 539. Source field: “Escalated Estimate.” Estimate date, inflation basis, funded amount and completion status are not supplied.
Original source table ↗Workspace- Site Configuration including parking areas$40,000
Asset as named in source: Property site
Project components: Improvement Type: Site, Category: , Subcategory: NA, Description: , Invest#: Improvement Type: Parking, Category: Site Configuration, Subcategory: Parking - Bike, Description: Enclosed Bike Parking, Invest#: 222.03 Improvement Type: Parking, Category: Site Configuration, Subcategory: Parking, Description: Fleet Parking, Invest#: 222.01 Improvement Type: Parking, Category: Site Configuration, Subcategory: Parking, Description: FTE Parking, Invest#: 222.02
KGW table row 540. Source field: “Escalated Estimate.” Estimate date, inflation basis, funded amount and completion status are not supplied.
Original source table ↗Change light poles base connection$27,540
Asset as named in source: Light poles
Case: Some light poles are connected to the footing by steel wires that deteriorating over time because of water/moisture influence. Additionally , these bases are not designed for lateral loads produced by wind and other tension equipment. Proposal: replace wire type connection by other type that resist coded lateral loads and more durable against environmental effects Number of poles is 9 approximately with estimated cost $3000/ pole.
KGW table row 543. Source field: “Escalated Estimate.” Estimate date, inflation basis, funded amount and completion status are not supplied.
Original source table ↗ESPC-III_Buildings Lighting to LEDs$11,760
Asset as named in source: Special Facility
LED conversion for Exterior and Interior Lights
KGW table row 546. Source field: “Escalated Estimate.” Estimate date, inflation basis, funded amount and completion status are not supplied.
Original source table ↗Replace Backflow preventer device$10,000
Asset as named in source: Property
- Replace out of compliance backflow preventers - Assembly: Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA) - Move to property line, if needed - Hazard: Right of Way (ROW) - See components for detail
KGW table row 547. Source field: “Escalated Estimate.” Estimate date, inflation basis, funded amount and completion status are not supplied.
Original source table ↗Workspace- Reconfiguration and Furnishing$10,000
Asset as named in source: Carnegie Annex, ID-183
Improvement Type: Building, Category: Interior, Subcategory: Furnishings, Description: Locker Rooms, Invest#: 183.08
KGW table row 548. Source field: “Escalated Estimate.” Estimate date, inflation basis, funded amount and completion status are not supplied.
Original source table ↗15 of 46 assessed built records are rated poor or very bad in the separate condition dataset. Condition ratings do not determine these dollar estimates.
Source: KGW’s November 2023 table. Current status, remaining scope and funding are unverified. Exact duplicate rows count once; other scope overlaps remain unresolved.
Compare repair estimates across parks →Annual service · FY 2026–27 adopted
A complete annual cost is not yet available.
This property has no named account linked in the public budget extract. Shared crews and citywide programs may still fund its care.
Later budget supplements and unallocated shared services are not included.
Annual breakdown & district context →District picture · District 4
This park in the district picture
The same public records, read the same way for every property, so this park can be set next to its district. Each figure keeps its own source and date. “Not available” means the source has no record for this property. It is not a zero.
People nearby
- Residents within a half mile
- 5,428
- Households within a half mile
- 3,525
2020 Census blocks whose centre point lies within a half mile of the park boundary, measured in a straight line. Residents, not visitors. Blocks outside the city limits count.
Recorded backlog
- Open backlog IDs
- 20
- Closed backlog IDs
- 3
Records in the PP&R backlog map workbook that name this property. The workbook publishes no cost field, so these are counts of records, not dollars.
Active capital projects
- Active geocoded projects
- 0
Geocoded PP&R capital projects at this property, a subset of the full capital program. The cost is the published estimated total project cost, not spending to date.
Who is on record
Agreement on record
A lease, license, permit or similar agreement names this property. It may be a utility easement rather than park work.
- Cedarwood Waldorf School · Permit, Feb 27, 2026 to Feb 26, 2027Permit: Use of Lair Hill Park for school-related activities
- The Cottonwood School of Civics and Science · Permit, Feb 5, 2026 to Feb 4, 2027Permit: Use of Lair Hill Park for school-related activities
From the department-provided partnership directory. It records what is on paper, not who does each task. Each agreement links to its entry on PP&R's agreements with partners, with the public text where it's posted, how to request it where it isn't, and the rules that govern partnerships.
Condition across all assets
Citywide condition atlasAcross 46 assessed assets at this park, 33% are in poor or very-bad condition (rated 4–5). Pooled from the City's public assessment layers — buildings, bridges, playgrounds, courts, fields, fences, paths and amenities.
This count comes from the City's rated asset layers; the “Public assets” list below is a separate furnishings inventory, so its items and scores are counted separately and the two totals need not match.
Good · 1Above fair · 12Fair · 18Poor · 9Very bad · 6
Assessed asset families here
Amenities & furnishings2007 (2007–2026)Buildings2018Fences2022Pathways & trailsPlayground equipment2020Sport courts
Condition is rated 1 (good) to 5 (very bad); no score means not yet assessed and is excluded. Park trees are inventoried separately and not counted here. These assessment records do not contain repair costs. Historical project estimates are shown separately.
Repair ledger
Public data does not currently flag repair candidates for this park. Additional PP&R maintenance exports can be added without changing the page structure.
Know this park?
Seen something here that's broken, fixed, or missing from this list? Records are updated periodically; tell us what you see.
Send a condition note →Public assets
All 11Furnishings the City inventories here, with each item's condition score — 1 is good, 5 is very bad. Asset photos aren't public yet.
Bench×4
2233
Drinking Fountain×2
32
Permanent Trash Can×2
22
Picnic Table×2
23
Bike Rack×1
2
Official Portland.gov profile
From the City's park page
Lair Hill Park on Portland.gov
Learn more about closures and postponements related to the COVID-19 pandemic response.
A Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Node (pronounced beacon) is a place to go in Portland after a major earthquake to ask for emergency assistance if phone service is down, or report severe damage or injury. More information can be found at the Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Node page.
City label
Park
Year acquired
1927
Official acres
3.262
City section
Downtown
Neighborhood
South Portland
Hours
Park hours: 5:00am-midnight
Amenities and activities
Accessible play areaBEECN – basic earthquake emergency communication nodePicnic tablePlaygroundStatue or public artPaths (paved)Tennis backboardTennis court (lighted)
All dogs must be leashed in this park.
This page, on a sign
The QR label for this park points here. Print labels →
https://parks.portlandciviclab.org/parks/lair-hill-park-222?utm_source=park_qr&utm_medium=sign&utm_campaign=park_222
Where this comes from
Facilities from the City's amenity pages and asset layers; hours, photo, and history from the City's park page; programs and events from its catalogs; condition from PortlandMaps public records. Where the City publishes nothing, this page says so instead of guessing.