THE NAME

Why The Goodwin?

When your mission is building housing for everyday Portland-area residents and workers, part of your job is to create a development that embraces its neighborhood. That philosophy is carried forward in everything we do – from the building design to the name we put on the front door.

The Parkside Neighborhood is Parkside because of its single greatest asset; Deering Oaks. And, Deering Oaks is the Portland treasure that it is, in part, because of the talent and vision of William A. Goodwin.

William Goodwin was the Civil Engineer for the City of Portland from 1872 to 1879. In 1879, he was tasked with preparing the initial designs for Deering Oaks, a tract of land the City had just purchased from the Deering family for the purpose of establishing a city park. Goodwin’s design followed a naturalistic style, which focused on protecting and enhancing the property’s main feature; dramatic stands of mature oak trees. Much of his original design plans were implemented and ultimately recognized when Deering Oaks was entered into the National Register for Historic Places in 1989.

Learn more about William Goodwin and the history of Deering Oaks: