When you love on the city and have a passion for gardening it can be tough to find a place to do…read moreit. The South Waterfront has fixed that issue by offering raised planter boxes filled with organic soil for rent. The rent is due annually. Included in your rental fee is the water, tools and the hauling away of the debris. People plant everything. There are flowers large and small and every kind of vegetable you can think of. Tomatoes especially seem to grow really well because the boxes get a lot of sun. The sunflowers are super happy as well. The other gardeners seem very nice and social, it's a great way to meet other people that live in the area as well. So if you have a hankering to grow something and live in close proximity....check it out!

This was our first time here ever! The water, of course absolutely stunning. Driving out on the bar…read morewas such a fun experience and we found parking nice and easy because we got there very early. We did forget our cooler but other people were well prepared and we're quick to provide us with anything we asked for out of basic necessity like one single bottle of water. we were going out on a standard little inflatable boat, nothing fancy and we were out on the water for maybe an hour, but we did give up and go in because the jet skis are an issue. Everyone has a jet ski, there's so many jet skis! As we were packing up, the sheriff showed up and was starting to crack down on them, looking at lifejackets and parking permits, and some of them were starting to leave thank goodness, but we had already had our fill of their noise. Several of the jet skis were coming extremely close to our boat, which of course we don't have the reactivity that they do since we were motorless, and it felt incredibly uncomfortable overall. The view was gorgeous for three dollars. It was a fun experience and I definitely would come back and enjoy looking at other parts of the park. If you come prepared in the morning and set up a clear space for you and your loved ones this could be a fun all day experience, but don't be afraid to stand your ground against the jet skiers as They need to follow the rules and respect everyone's boundaries and safety. There was plenty of parking and there's a vault toilet on site by the bar so that was convenient too.

This used to be a great accessible park to local residents. I don't want to pay to use this park…read moreevery time I visit since that's what part of my taxes go to already. It's too bad used to be a great spot.

I love this park especially in the summer. There is a good size parking lot, the restrooms are…read moreclean and it is just off the beaten path. There is a nice playground, basketball court and baseball field. I like the loop walking trail along the river that has signage so that you learn about the things that are cool to the area. Like the meteorite. It was a rainy day today but there were still a few people enjoying the walking trail.

A beautiful little oasis, with a slice of Main Street USA.....This lovely small park rests between…read moreWillamette Falls Dr and the Tualatin River. There are little league fields, a place to fish or watch the water, trails to walk your dog, neighborhood garden..what else could you possibly want? Pay a visit, if even for 15 minutes, to transport yourself into a small town park

Since Clarendon middle school closed down in 2006, this site sat unused and sadly neglected. Then,…read morean enterprising group from the 'hood, The Portsmouth Neighborhood Association applied and received an Interstate Urban Renewal Community Livability grant and since last year has been busy transforming the site to a community garden project prevalent in so many urban communities these days. Biggups to the PNA for their ambition and stick-to-it-iveness! One wonders what, if anything this portends for the immediately adjacent Clarendon Park (now it's called Northgate Park. I guess old man Clarendon has fallen completely out of favor). We sure played many a pick-up football game and walked the dogs, played frisbee, and fraternized w/the fairer gender many a time in that park, among other sundry activities. Hopefully this park is safely preserved in "livable" perpetuity as well..

I regularly lean against the fencing and stare with extreme focus at what folks have in their…read moregardens here. I feel like a kids with my faces pressed against the glass of a locked candy store. The 33 organic garden plots are well kept, but I am on the waiting list and every time I see an unattended plant wilt, I am filled with hope that I will get that plot! They have a picnic table inside the garden that is for gardeners only, it calls to me! You can add your name to list, just follow the link, it is very affordable, about $20 per year.

Of you're looking for a nice place for a picnic with an impressive view of the Willamete River this…read moreis the place for you. There a nice walking trail, picnic tables and plenty of green space. If shade is your things there is that as well. Occasionally, you see some members of our houseless community coming through but know permanent dwelling happening that I could see. Anywhoo check it out.

A lovely quiet river walk off of the highway. Some nice shaded benches to sit on and watch the…read moregeese and ducks on the Willamette. A good spot for a picnic or a cup of coffee. Some bikes whizzing by - so keep your wits about ya!

What could be more Earth Day appropriate? I joined the community garden this year through…read morePortland.gov. It isn't for a lack of space, we do have a sizeable yard but I didn't know how to organize it or if I'd want to move it come next year so I thought this was a good compromise: nearby, a defined plot, probably some "experts" around to guide me. So it's about $40 for the season, going April to October for a plot that's about 10x10'. My plot had some things in it already that I opted to leave. The garden is secured by padlock but they have had tools go missing. I haven't taken many photos yet but I will as the season goes on. There are plentiful hose spigots and I like that it's nestled in a natural copse and has houses nearby. It makes me feel like I'm close to neighbors and there is a bit of community. I find the whole Ed Benedict area quite appealing, and feel it adds value to the neighborhood for green space, the skate park, the memory garden and the community garden.

Earl Boyles Park is an 8 acre park adjacent to the similarly named elementary school. Apparently…read morethey are both named after a beloved janitor who worked at the school in the 1930s and 1940s. The park is nice. It is street parking only, with entries and exits on multiple sides. There are paved and wood chipped paths throughout and around the exterior. There is a small kids playground, a large community garden, open grassy fields, and shady areas under tall pine trees.