By Leanne Bach, May 18, 2018
Drive by too fast, you’ll miss it. Truth be told, if you’re walking too briskly you might not even notice it. But you’d do well to keep a sharp eye out for this unique feature of our beloved Rose City hiding in plain-sight in the middle of Naito Parkway. Mill Ends Park has the truly rare distinction of being both the World’s Smallest City Park according to the Guinness Book of World Records and the only dedicated Leprechaun Colony west of the Emerald Isle itself. So named by Dick Fagan, a local newspaperman of the last century, after his own column “Mill Ends” (or the peculiar bits and bobs of wood found remaining at lumber mills). This small round park measures only a couple of feet across and was intended to host a lamppost. But left unused too long, Fagan planted flowers in the weed-grown patch and thus a new park was born and dedicated on St. Patrick’s Day 70 years ago. Fagan spun yarns about the tiny park’s Leprechaun inhabitants in his column and inspired a city to proudly sing of its Celtic culture and celebrate this tiny little magical spot with all the fun and fanfare of the Faerie.
