The experience: Calling all families – it’s time to grab your bikes and tour your city’s neighborhoods with Sunday Parkways. For three more weekends this summer, the City of Portland will close routes around the city to cars and other motorized traffic, reserving streets exclusively for bikers, walkers, runners, skaters and anyone else who wants to move (including those on mobility devices).

Based on a program that began in More…

The Experience: When our grandparents and parents were little, they may have spent summer days catching frogs, digging in the dirt and playing outside using little more than their imaginations and whatever they found on the ground. They didn’t need skateboards, TV, or sidewalk chalk. They got sunshine and fresh air, they reinforced their More…

We all have our favorite neighborhood parks, but with so many wonderful play spaces in the region why not get out and explore a few new ones this year? We don’t have the space to list all our beloved area parks, but we hope you’ll consider the small sampling below next time the urge to explore a new park strikes. Remember: thanks to your tax dollars, they’re all free! For additional parks, check the listings under Hiking & Wildlife Watching and visit your city’s parks department Web site.

Playground, soccer fields and a “garden” of bronze sculptures of characters from Cleary’s books.
Grant Park, NE 33rd and US Grant Pl.; 503-823-PLAY (7529); www.portlandparks.org.

Includes a massive wooden play structure and trails on six wooded acres.
1900 SW Cherry Park Rd., Troutdale; 503-666-8303; www.ci.troutdale.or.us/parks-facilities/.

79-acre park on the banks of the Tualatin River.
17005 SW 92nd Ave., Tigard; 503-639-4171; www.tigard-or.gov/community/parks.

SW 45th and Vermont; 503-823-PLAY (7529); www.portlandparks.org.

Features sports fields, access to the Willamette River, a memorial garden area, playground and tennis courts.
611 State St., Lake Oswego; 503-697-6500; www.ci.oswego.or.us/parksrec.

Includes an award-winning play area.
10455 SW Ibach St., Tualatin; 503-691-3061; www.ci.tualatin.or.us.

Sand play area, walking paths and more.
17255 SW Jurgens Ave., Tualatin; 503-691-3061; www.ci.tualatin.or.us.

Includes tennis courts, play structure, duck pond and more.
SE 39th and Stark; 503-823-PLAY (7529); www.portlandparks.org.

Upgraded in 2006, this park includes an impressive “play station,” community gardens and more.
1015 E McLoughlin, Vancouver; 360-619-1111; www.ci.vancouver.wa.us/parks-recreation.

Hike to the top of the volcano. Also features a playground and reservoir.
SE 60th and Salmon; 503-823-PLAY (7529); www.portlandparks.org.

Take the train from the zoo to this park with elaborate play structures and sand area, featuring a castle, spaceship and water-fight fountain.
SW Kingston Blvd., adjacent to International Rose Test Garden, Washington Park; 503-823-PLAY (7529); www.portlandparks.org.

Enjoy the freshwater lake with sandy beach.
1112 NE 117th St., Vancouver, Wash.; 360-619-1111; www.ci.vancouver.wa.us/parks-recreation.

Includes tennis courts, horseshoe pit and swimming pool.
SE 7th and Miller; 503-823-PLAY (7529); www.portlandparks.org.

This mammoth park boasts over 129 acres, many specialty gardens and the Rose Garden Children’s Park.
Head of SW Park Place.; 503-823-PLAY (7529); www.portlandparks.org.

This 22.5 acre park includes volleyball courts, wading pool, boat landing and dock system, and wildlife viewing.
1100 12th St., West Linn; 503-557-4700; westlinnoregon.gov/parksrec/parks/willamette-park.

Playground, soccer fields and a “garden” of bronze sculptures of characters from Cleary’s books.

Grant Park, NE 33rd and US Grant Pl.; 503-823-PLAY (7529); www.portlandparks.org.