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Prominent Portland landscape architect and urban planner Robert (鈥淏ob鈥�) Perron died Aug. 28 from heart and lung disease. He was 83.

Perhaps Perron鈥檚 best-known project in Portland was the Salmon Street Springs Fountain, and surrounding benches, near Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The water feature opened in 1988. However, he worked on many other projects in the city, such as the Brewery Blocks streetscape and Terry Schrunk Plaza.

Outside of Portland, Perron was responsible for Spokane鈥檚 Riverfront Park, which developed out of his master plan for the 1974 World鈥檚 Fair. In Central Oregon, he designed the Black Butte Ranch master plan and later phases of Sunriver Resort.

鈥淗e developed his practice at a critical time, when landscape architecture was gaining a lot of influence in the 鈥�60s and 鈥�70s,鈥� said Mike Faha, founding principal at landscape design firm GreenWorks. 鈥淗e had a real strong relationship amongst the industry as a whole.鈥�

Perron made numerous professional connections, including with late Portland designers Bing Sheldon and Doug Macy 鈥� co-founders of SERA Architects and Walker Macy, respectively.

Mentorship was perhaps even more important to Perron than his own career achievements. At least 20 firms, by his estimation, sprouted from his guidance. Faha was never employed by Perron, but worked with him on several projects.

鈥淗e was more than a professional colleague,鈥� Faha said. 鈥淚 thought of him as a mentor.鈥�

Perron was born in Oregon City. After attending Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, he graduated from the University of Oregon in 1959 and from Harvard with a master鈥檚 degree in landscape architecture in 1961. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Denmark, and spent 1963 working as a faculty member at the University of California, Berkeley.

A year later, Perron returned to Portland to open his practice. He co-founded Design Collaborative in 1968 and Perron Collaborative some years later.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Perron took leadership roles with nonprofits like the Creative Initiative Foundation and Beyond War. He also put his carpentry skills to use by helping build five Habitat for Humanity homes in South Africa.

Perron鈥檚 designs made an impact by giving abundantly, close friend and geologist Roger Smith said.

鈥淭hey were not minimalist at all; I would describe them as the opposite of minimalist,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 would say his style is a very generous style.鈥�

Smith explained that Perron went so far as to design benches that were more comfortable than any other. He later patented the design.

Through 40 years of friendship, Perron was always optimistic, Smith said.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I ever saw Bob in a bad mood,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e had a very positive attitude, even when I sometimes didn鈥檛.鈥�

A celebration of Perron鈥檚 life will take place on Oct. 12 at Meridian United Church of Christ in Wilsonville. Friends and professional associates are invited to attend.