Beautiful restoration, nice to have a park in city center. I once took a train round trip to Hood River to experience the steps and the views.

Kenn on 26th February 2015 @ 7:17am

Can't say that I minded the old look. And when it used to look like that, I used to climb the stairs. I haven't been up them in years. When the kids were little I took them to gymnastic lessons in that building and then go for a walk up the stairs.
Any history on the Horsefeathers building?

I looked up Stratton gardens. Guess I need to make a visit.

Stratton Gardens, City of Hood River

Award-winning design – Perennial Plant Association Honor Award and Association of Professional Landscape Designers Gold Award

This peaceful, small public park is tucked into the hillside overlooking downtown Hood River. It is located above Overlook Memorial Park, west of the public stairs. The garden often is a surprise to first-time visitors. Its serene atmosphere lends itself to enjoying a quiet lunch or a moment of respite. Take a walk through the park and up the stairs to absorb the fragrance and beauty of the roses and other flowers. Numerous benches around the perimeter of the park invite visitors to sit down and relax. Large oak trees shade part of the garden.

Stratton Gardens is owned by the City of Hood River and was dedicated on July 6, 2002. It is located directly above Overlook Memorial Park and bordered by Sherman Street on its south side. It can be rented for weddings from the City of Hood River, (Public Works / Parks & Recreation)

DESIGN: Starting with a weed-strewn hillside, the 6,000 square foot park now consists of a formal layout of four symmetrical rose beds surrounded by traditional boxwood. The beds are based on a historical, European parterre pattern and arranged around a small central fountain. The lower part of the park is handicapped-accessible. The terraced hillside above, with its sweeping stone staircase, displays English-style plantings with Northwest elements. Stratton Gardens was designed by Marion McNew of Mount Hood Gardens. She also served as project manager for its construction.

FUNDING: The park was financed by an endowment from the late Brick Stratton, who passed away in 2001. The fund also provides for the garden’s ongoing maintenance.
http://www.mounthoodgardens.com/stratton-gardens-city-of-hood-river

l.e. on 26th February 2015 @ 7:21am

Hoping someone will expound on Brick Stratton.

nels on 26th February 2015 @ 1:59pm

Don't know that it is the same building but there was one there that was Meyers Cleaners.
My brother recently sent me a picture of the stairs. Someone had chalked the numbers on the stairs. One set going up and another going down. Makes my legs ache to think about climbing them now.

Norma on 26th February 2015 @ 3:11pm

Yes, Norma I recall that building at the cleaners....those stairs were "killers" on a hot day going up them to get to the swimming pool......

Charlott on 27th February 2015 @ 7:04am

Norma, I was told that In the 50's the HR High School Football Team would run up and down the stairs in full gear for training. I thought there was only one set of stairs., not one for going up and coming down. Residents of Hood River should visit the site, read the bricks, view the memorial, and take a look at the flags. What a wonderful addition to the City of Hood River.

judy on 28th February 2015 @ 9:32am

Yes, yes, yes, I recall my husband stating the fact that he ran up and down as part of football drills......Buzz did you ever run it?

Charlott on 1st March 2015 @ 8:27am

I remember running up the stairs, but I remember it as being in training for the mile and half mile in track. But maybe we did it for football too. They always had us running somewhere.

Buzz on 1st March 2015 @ 11:43am

Yes, we ran those damn stairs..........

arlen sheldrake on 1st March 2015 @ 7:25pm

Judy, there is only one set of stairs. Someone wrote the numbers going up on one side of a step and the numbers going down on the other side. No matter what step you were on you could add the two numbers together and get the total number of steps.

Norma on 2nd March 2015 @ 7:43am

Norma, someone had a lot of time on their hands :^)

judy on 2nd March 2015 @ 10:21am