The award is meant to "[recognize] an outstanding example of a public open space that has enriched and revitalized its surrounding community."

The other four finalists were Portland's Jamison Square, Houston's Discovery Green and Raymond and Susan Brochstein Pavilion, and St. Louis' Citygarden, the last of which ultimately won the prize on May 19, 2011.

[7] Daniel H. Lownsdale reserved the Park Blocks for public use in his 1848 platting of Portland, but didn't actually donate land to the city.

The record is clear: Daniel Lownsdale was a visionary but shifty character whose land speculation helped to spawn more litigation in Portland than in any other western city of comparable size.

"[8] Chet Orloff wrote an editorial in 2001 stating "six crucial blocks were lost to greed, government reluctance, poor estate planning and an adverse court decision.

[13][14] Neil Goldschmidt said the parking structure would be "like putting lipstick on a dead corpse" and Bill Naito said that a "12-story garage won't go away.

[19] By 2004, the idea to reunite the Park Blocks through midtown was dead, due to Neil Goldschmidt moving out of the spotlight during his sex abuse scandal, Vera Katz's disapproval of the plan, and because Moyer was "tired of swimming upstream" against the city council.

[24] ZGF and Olin had competed against the team of Robert Murase, SERA Architects, and Christian Moeller.

[26] During a time of budget shortfalls, the city, the public steering committee (headed by Chet Orloff), and Tom Moyer were willing to give away naming rights in exchange for further funding.

[27] Jordan Schnitzer, a local developer, donated $1.97 million for the plaza and asked city commissioners to name it for his maternal grandparents, Simon and Helen Director.