Owen Rose Garden

Location: N. Jefferson at the Willamette River

Nestled next to the Willamette River near the Washington-Jefferson Street bridge is the eight and a half-acre park known as Owen Memorial Rose Garden.  In 1951, George E. Owen, a former Eugene City Councilor and lumberman, donated five acres with his house to the City.  It was the first parcel in a series that now forms the section of riverfront park stretching from the Ferry Street Bridge to the Greenway bike bridge near Valley River Center.

Shortly after Owen's donation of property, the Eugene Rose Society donated the original 750 rose bushes.  This original collection has expanded into a panorama of more than 4,500 roses of over 400 varieties.

Since the mid 1990s the staff at the rose garden have been working on enhancing the garden's year round interest.  Companion plant beds have been created that display a wide variety of annuals and perennials that add interest and bloom to the garden's landscape.

The rose garden is comprised of two basic areas.  The northern portion of the garden adjacent to the Willamette River was developed first and contains the many hybrid and modern rose varieties.  The southern half of the garden contains a pergola-lined walkway, a gazebo, the parking lot and maintenance facility, and a small collection of heritage and heirloom roses.

Since 1999, culminating in the dedication of the gazebo in summer 2003, the Eugene Delta Rotary has spearheaded a major renovation of the garden.