While the revelry of Pride filled the waterfront this past Saturday, a different celebration took root in southwest Portland. Civic leaders, community members, and the family of the late, renowned drag queen Darcelle XV gathered to break ground on Darcelle XV Plaza. The new space, situated at Southwest 9th and Harvey Milk Streets, aims to honor the beloved icon's legacy. "Darcelle Plaza will be about what Darcelle would want, which is joy, which is people coming together," City Commissioner Dan Ryan told KATU.
The event marked the transformation, of what was originally O'Bryant Square, into a green communal space celebrating Darcelle's influence and promoting downtown activity. According to a KPTV report, the plaza, announced last summer, is seeing its vibrant blueprint turn into reality nearly one year later. Ryan emphasized the plaza would encapsulate joy and the essence of togetherness.
Portland City Commission Rene Gonzalez echoed a similar sentiment during the ceremony. Reflecting on the city's need for upliftment and greater community connection, Gonzalez remarked, "This is a celebration of a long-time icon for our community," capturing the importance of the plaza as a beacon of queer legacy and civic spirit. Darcelle XV's daughter, Maridee Woodson, was present for the jubilant occasion. "It's a very emotional day for me, it means everything for our family," she expressed to KATU, attesting to her father's multifaceted life as a stellar performer and parent.
Anticipated to open next summer, Darcelle XV Plaza will also help fulfill the City of Portland's aspirations to enrich the downtown vibe with more green spaces. With its proximity to the longest-running West Coast drag cabaret, Darcelle XV Showplace, the plaza will stand as an honorary site for the iconic entertainer known for decades of performance artistry. As the city turned dirt to start construction, the vision of an area brimming with Darcelle's beloved essence of entertainment and community draws closer to realization. The project's progress can be followed on local channels as the plaza moves towards completion, set to become a hub for Portland's vibrant spirit, just as Darcelle herself would have cherished, KGW reports.
