It includes a zoo, forestry museum, arboretum, rose garden, Japanese garden, amphitheatre, memorials, archery range, tennis courts, soccer field, picnic areas, playgrounds, public art and many acres of wild forest with miles of trails.

It comprises 241.45 acres (97.71 hectares) of city parkland that has been officially designated as "Washington Park" by the City of Portland,[1] as well as the adjacent 64-acre (26 ha) Oregon Zoo and the 153-acre (62 ha) Hoyt Arboretum, which together make up the area described as "Washington Park" on signs and maps.

The City of Portland purchased the original 40.78 acres (16.50 hectares) of Washington Park in 1871 from Amos King for $32,624, a controversially high price for the time.

In 1958, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) moved into a new building in the southwest corner of Washington Park, adjacent to the new zoo.

[11] On March 15, 2018, the Portland City Council adopted a master plan to guide the development of Washington Park over the next 20 years.

Namesake of Multnomah County United States Senator (1867-1873); President of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition (1902-1903).

Portlanders understand and appreciate how differently beautiful is this part of the world—the white city against the deep evergreen of the hills, the snow mountains to the east, the ever-changing river and its boat life, the dusty oriental brilliancy of Chinatown—and the grays, blues, and greens, the smoke-dimmed sunsets and pearly hazes of August, so characteristic of the Pacific Northwest.

In 2019, the City of Portland constructed Barbara Walker Crossing at the northern edge of Washington Park to allow Wildwood Trail users to safely pass over West Burnside Street.

[43] The northeastern corner of the park, at NW 23rd Place and W. Burnside, is served by bus route 20-Burnside/Stark, which runs seven days a week.