Neighborhood parks are like hidden treasures tucked away amidst our bustling communities. They can offer a tranquil retreat from the urban bustle, a vast runway for your dog to get her zoomies out, or an imaginative space for your little one to simply be a kid!
The quality of life in Portland wouldn’t be so high if it weren’t for the community’s dedication to its natural, open-air green spaces. Not only do we boast one of the largest urban forests in the US (Forest Park), but almost every home in this city is within walking distance of a neighborhood park. If you live in Portland, you can rest assured you won’t have to go far to find your local park.
With two rambunctious kids to wrangle, I’ve visited my fair share of parks in this city. Let me tell you about three of my fave lesser-known parks in my local stomping grounds, just east of the I-205 corridor:
Ventura Park: a large newer play structure awaits the young ones with creative minds, with a sliding turf hill, a dirt bike track, and a water station. There’s a picnic area, and dogs are allowed on-leash. There’s also a big grassy area to set up a sports game or chill in the shade and have a picnic. Located in Hazelwood/Mill Park neighborhood, 460 SE 113th Ave, Portland OR 97216.
Gateway Discovery Park: A fab gathering place for groups large and small, this inclusive playground is accessible to children of all abilities. There’s a skate park, and a splash pad for those extra warm summer days. Dogs are allowed 0n-leash. Located in Hazelwood/Parkrose Heights neighborhood, 10520 NE Halsey St, Portland OR 97220.
Luuwit View Park: With a separate fenced off-leashed dog area, this park is a great place to ensure fun for the entire family – furry friends included! Theres an impressive amphitheater, a newer accessible play area with with soft rubber flooring, a big slide and climbing structure. There is also a picnic area, extensive bike and foot paths, and best of all an expansive view Mt. St Helens! Located in Argay Terrace neighborhood, NE 127th and NE Fremont, Portland OR 97230.
Want more neighborhood park recommendations here in Portland? Looking for the best summer splashpads? Reach out, and let’s chat!
Cindy and Oscar got in touch with me in what feels like a lifetime ago- mid January of 2020. They were eager to become homeowners, and after having gone through the process of trying to buy a home last year only to have it implode with a very low appraisal, they were ready for a fresh start. New agent (me), new lender (Umpqua) and a new year. They love mid-century homes and were looking for a home that wasn’t in perfect cosmetic condition. They love to garden and were looking forward to having a yard for their beloved pup Cookie. In late February we looked at a a 1960 tri-level in a picture perfect mid-century block in Mill Park. The home hit most of their marks- it was in good enough shape to move into, had hardwood floors, mid-century charm, and a beautiful yard. They also wanted a home that would work for multiple generations for parents to move into eventually and kids in the future, and with the tri-level layout, it had the perfect floor plan for being able to do so. It also needed a face-lift, something Oscar and Cindy actually wanted to do on a home. It had been on the market for almost 2 months, and while it was priced lower than what neighboring homes had recently sold for, it definitely needed some vision and felt overpriced considering how much work it needed. They decided to keep looking and found another great mid-century home in Milwaukie that they loved and decided to put an offer in on. That home had multiple offers and went for way over listing price, so they did not get that house. But all the while, the sweet tri-level in Mill Park kept calling to them. So a little over a week after they first saw it, we wrote up an offer for $25k under list price. The sellers countered back with $20k under list and my buyers accepted.
