Waldo Park is a
municipal park
An urban park or metropolitan park, also known as a municipal park (North America) or a public park, public open space, or municipal gardens ( UK), is a park in cities and other incorporated places that offer recreation and green space to re ...
, located in downtown
Salem,
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. It is one of the smallest city parks in the world, measuring . The park consists of a
giant sequoia
''Sequoiadendron giganteum'' (giant sequoia; also known as giant redwood, Sierra redwood, Sierran redwood, California big tree, Wellingtonia or simply big treea nickname also used by John Muir) is the sole living species in the genus ''Sequoiade ...
(one of the biggest tree species in the world) surrounded by landscaping and marked with a plaque and sign.
The park is named for the 19th-century lawyer and
Marion County judge
William Waldo, who planted the tree on his property in 1872. Waldo later sold his property to the city, under condition that the tree be preserved. In 1936, the tree was made into a city park as a result of activism by the
American War Mothers, with the support of prominent Salem citizens.
The tree is located at the intersection of Union and Summer streets, with Summer Street, a major Salem thoroughfare, temporarily reduced in width to make room for the tree. The tree currently reaches a height of . It is a designated
Oregon Heritage Tree
Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. T ...
.
Gallery
Image:Waldo Park Salem, Oregon.JPG
Image:Waldo Park redwood tree Salem, Oregon.JPG
Image:Waldo Park redwood tree near car Salem Oregon.JPG
Image:Waldo Park tree with Salem taxi.JPG
See also
*
Mill Ends Park
Mill Ends Park (sometimes mistakenly called Mill's End Park) is a tiny urban park, consisting of one tree, located in the median strip of Naito Parkway, SW Naito Parkway next to Tom McCall Waterfront Park along the Willamette River near SW Taylor ...
, the smallest park in the world, located in nearby
Portland
Portland most commonly refers to:
* Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States
* Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
External links
Waldo Parkfrom City of Salem Parks Department
Individual trees in Oregon
Parks in Salem, Oregon
1936 establishments in Oregon
Protected areas established in 1936
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