Mount Hood Gardens, Inc.

Georgiana Smith Park surrounds the Hood River County Library in the heart of downtown Hood River. It is part of the County’s park system. The park’s grounds envelop the newly expanded, magnificent brick library building. An adjoining lot to the west was donated to the County by the Stoltz family of Hood River, and was merged with the original park during construction in 2005.

Generous lawn areas on the park’s north side face Oak Street, downtown Hood River’s main street, where they allow for gorgeous views of the Columbia River. They are a popular picnic spot for locals and visitors alike. The park’s expanded lay-out, designed by Marion McNew of Mount Hood Gardens, connects State and Oak Streets and also provides access to Sixth Street. Three different patio spaces with diverse sun and shade aspects create separate outdoor rooms and are all handicapped-accessible. They allow for sitting, eating lunch, or the staging of small music events.

Additional benches along the natural rock wall on the north side entice visitors to sit and relax, with the added bonus of offering stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge. The new dry-stack stone walls throughout the park were constructed by Mount Hood Gardens.

A plaque fastened to a large stone, located in the center of the park, commemorates the family of Georgiana Smith, early settlers in Hood River. Georgiana Smith was instrumental in establishing the original library in 1908. The historic library building was realized with a grant from the Carnegie Foundation and designed in the Jacobethan style. It opened in 1914, with the most recent addition dedicated in 2003.

Georgiana Smith Park was made possible through donations and in-kind work by numerous organizations and many individuals, among others the Library Foundation, Hood River County, Hood River Rotary, the Columbia Gorge Master Gardeners, Friends of the Library, the City of Hood River and Mount Hood Gardens. It was dedicated in a formal ceremony and celebration for the public on October 9, 2005.

For more detailed information about the creation of the park please refer to adjoining articles.

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The southwest side of the park in March of 2005, with the future paths and SW patio flagged out

Center of the park, site of the future children's patio (green flags), March 2005. Note how the patio will incorporate the existing commemorative stone.

The southwest side of the park in March of 2005, with the future paths and SW patio flagged out

Center of the park, site of the future children's patio (green flags), March 2005. Note how the patio will incorporate the existing commemorative stone.

Close-up of the park's center in mid April of 2005, with Oak Street and the Columbia River below.

The lower northwest side prior to construction, mid April 2005. A new path and pergola will furnish access to Sixth Street and comfortable seating.

The same site during excavation and construction, late April 2005. Thinning the vegetation between the two properties created one continuous park.

The finished Children's patio and west-facing view of the new pergola in the background, early October 2005

Ample seating along the north-facing path leading up to the Library, October 2007

Favorite summer pastime, reading and relaxing. The moss rock stone wall created a level sidewalk and allows for extra seating, July 2008

North side of the park looking west, October 2007

The upper southwest patio after construction in early October of 2005

... and furnished with comfortable tables and chairs in October of 2007

Luscious plantings frame the northwest side of the park and the pergola area, with magnificent views of the Columbia River, early October 2007.

Northwest view of the park in late June of 2008