Vera Katz Statue

The bronze figure of Vera Katz stands on a granite pedestal near the Eastbank Esplanade, captured mid-stride with her trademark colorful scarf flowing behind her. As Portland's mayor for three terms, she championed the transformation of the city's derelict industrial waterfront into this public park. A few days before the statue was unveiled in two thousand and six, the artist, Bruce West, realized the cast was missing the signature brooch Katz always wore. He famously fashioned a replacement from a spare button.