Vandals in Oregon chop down only tree in ‘world’s smallest park’

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

The “world’s smallest park” is missing its only tree.

The Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon, is a concrete planter measuring two feet in diameter, The Oregonian reported. The stump of a tiny Douglas fir and a patch of dirt were all that remained of the park Friday morning, KOIN-TV reported.

The park, built in 1948, was designated as the world's smallest by Guinness World Records. It was built at the behest of Portland journalist Dick Fagan "for snail races and as a colony for leprechauns," the website reported.

A small pine tree was stolen from the site in 2013, The Oregonian reported. The fir as planted in its place.

"It's just not a nice thing to do," Mark Ross, a Portland Parks and Recreation spokesman, told The Oregonian. "It's not the end of the world. We'll all continue to enjoy the park and the whimsical nature of it, but when something like this happens it makes you think, 'Why would someone do that?'"

Parks bureau officials do not plan to file a police report, Ross told the newspaper.

The cost to replace the tree is estimated between $3 and $5, KOIN reported.

About the Author