Come summer time in Portland, it’s the perfect time to
further enhance your child’s view of his or her world by taking small outings
and taking advantage of the great outdoors!
Parks and Playgrounds abound in and out of Portland. It is after all one of the most
family-friendly cities. The parks are
the perfect places to get about and move, develop your child’s gross motor
skills, discover friends, and kindle their imagination. A few of our favorite parks are:
Washington Park
Children’s Playground (south of the Rose Garden) - a beautiful,
large, shaded playground, where kids of all ages have fun. You
can park right next to it or reach the park by parking close to the Rose Garden
following the winding road. Plenty of bridges,
slides, and swings. There is a sand play
area as well and other fun stuff. There are nearby benches and some picnic tables. http://washingtonparkpdx.org/attractions/
Pirate Park (Morgan’s
Run Park or Waterhouse Linear Park) - is a hidden gem of the Bethany-area
neighborhood. Not adjacent to any roads
but can be found along the walking/bike trail that runs through the Morgan Run
Park. Lovingly called Pirate Park
because of the pirate/nautical theme it uses on the playground structure. Very nice sand play area (bring extra
clothes and beach toys) and get ready to be dirty. People young and old cannot resist. http://www.thprd.org/parks/parkdetail.cfm?id=119
Water Parks and
Swimming Pools Indoor swimming
is available year-round, but outdoor swimming is the best on those hot
90-degree days or triple-digit heat waves we occasionally get to have.
Wilson Outdoor
Pool. A popular summer destination during
summer, this pool is next to the Wilson High School with a number of different
pools for different ages and abilities.
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=863&action=ViewPark
Conestoga Aquatic
Recreation Splash Pad. You have the
option to combine swimming or just play and splash in the splash pad. Check out the hours of operation before
going. http://www.thprd.org/aquatics/conestogaaquatic/home.cfm
53rd Avenue
Community Park (Hillsboro) – a newly designed and constructed park in
Hillsboro. Worth noting is their fun
Fountain / Splash area open during summer.
Great fun for kids and adults alike.
Plenty of fun awaits in the swings, slides, a merry-go-round and
climbing structures. Also, a nice sand area that runs next to the
small creek invites you to get down and get dirty.
These are just a few and not an exhaustive list. And of course, as always, there are our
other favorites as well, namely: OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry), the Oregon
Zoo, and the Portland’s Children Museum and good old-fashioned amusement rides
at Oaks Park.
Keep on the lookout for more parks and playgrounds around
you. A good resource to start with is
your local Parks and Recreation such as:
- Portland Parks and Recreation - http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/
- Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District - http://www.thprd.org/
- Hillsboro Parks and Recreation - http://www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/parksrec/Default.aspx
Portland never ceases to amaze me with its local culture and
constant stream of new, novel and exciting activities for the family!
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