Today’s Forecast

49º | Showers | 84% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:50 a.m. | Sunset 4:40 p.m.

We’d be remiss to exclude the world’s smallest park — Mill Ends Park — located in the median strip of Southwest Naito Parkway. | Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday

Whether you’re looking for a place to play with the kiddos or to decompress with some off-screen time, Portland features 300+ developed parks and recreational spots for you to enjoy.

Ready to plan your trip to the park? Grab your shades and trusty water bottle — here are some of Rose City’s best:

Nature parks

Forest Park, Northwest Portland
Encompassing 5,200 acres, Forest Park offers more than 80 miles of trails with over 40 access points and connects native plants and wildlife to the Oregon Coast Range.

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, Southeast Seventh Avenue and Sellwood Boulevard
This 163-acre area on the east bank of the Willamette River is home to meadows, woodlands, and wetlands rich with migratory and resident wildlife. Visit the “Tadpole Pond” to see young frogs and salamander larvae April-June.

Dozens of people look at flowering trees covered in pink blossoms with a bridge in the background. — The Akebono cherry trees at Tom McCall Waterfront Park were gifted to Portland by Japan in 1990.
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Photo by Ben McBee, PDXtoday

Family parks

Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Southwest Naito Parkway
The downtown riverfront park features a fountain with changing water patterns, a memorial plaza with iconic flowering cherry trees, and paths popular with joggers, skaters, bikers, and walkers.

Washington Park, Southwest Portland
“The crown jewel of Portland” spans 410 acres and includes some of the city’s most beloved spaces: the Oregon Zoo, World Forestry Center, Hoyt Arboretum, International Rose Test Garden, and the Portland Japanese Garden.

Two dogs play in a river on a sunny fall day with city buildings in the distance. — Water-loving dogs can swim to their heart’s content at Sellwood Riverfront Park.
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Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday

Dog parks

Alberta Park, 5751 NE 22nd Ave.
The park’s nearly 1.5-acre off-leash (and unfenced) area offers shade, grass, and space covered with bark mulch to prevent muddy paws.

Sellwood Riverfront Park, 1221 SE Oaks Park Way
The 1.5-acre off-leash area has access to water for dogs to swim safely. After splashing around, take your leashed pup down one of the paved paths to dry off.

Find all of these featured parks with the help of our handy map.

What’s your favorite park activity to do in our city — walk the dog, spend time with the kiddos, have a picnic, or work out? Let us know.

Discover 14 more parks

QUIZ

How much money did sports bettors wager between January and November of 2022? (Source: Forbes)

A. $10 billion
B. $31 billion
C. $54 billion
D. $68 billion
E. $83 billion
F. $103 billion

Congratulations to Wendy A. for winning a $50 gift card to our online shop, Six & Main. Did you know you could be our next winner? Answer this week’s survey questions for a chance to score a gift card!

ANSWER HERE

Events

Monday, March 20

Forest Therapy | Monday, Mar. 20 | 3-5 p.m. | Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd., Portland | $30 | Go on a 2-hour guided walk through the trees and reap the rewards, which are said to range from stress relief to immune system and mood support.
Bunny Photo Experiences | Monday, March 20-Saturday, April 8 | Washington Square, 9585 SW Washington Square Rd., Portland | $19.99 | Bring your little ones for keepsake photos with the magical springtime mammal.

Tuesday, March 21

Delta Rae with Wyn Starks | Tuesday, Mar. 21 | 9 p.m. | Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside St., Portland | $25 | The six-member folk rock band “of Southern storytellers” is ready to serenade a city far from their hometown in North Carolina.

Wednesday, March 22

Cider & Girl Scout Cookie Pairing Night | Wednesday, Mar. 22 | 3-9 p.m. | Portland Cider Co. Taprooms - Westside Pub & Hawthorne, Portland | $13 | Treat yourself to six kinds of cookies paired with six award-winning ciders — and buy some boxes of cookies to keep the fun going at home.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

Click here to have your event featured.

Spring into a new week

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Cause

🍿 How buying popcorn can help change lives

2 women standing and smiling, 1 holds a bag of popcorn

All proceeds from this small-batch, air-popped corn are donated back to Meals on Wheels People. | Photo provided by Meals on Wheels People

Good food for a good cause? Count us in.

Not only does PDXPOP! gourmet popcorn taste great — it also does great work. Each and every sale supports Meals On Wheels People’s mission of providing nutritious meals to homebound older adults.

We’re drooling over yummy flavors like Milk Chocolate Almond, White Cheddar, and Salted Butter Toffee (all of which start at $3.50 per bag). Give PDXPOP! popcorn a try and support a good cause.*

Get snacking, Portland

News Notes

Weather

49º | Cloudy with rain showers | 57% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 7:13 a.m.
Set: 7:22 p.m.

Civic

Bike-friendly speed bumps are being tested around Portland. Much like the city’s firetruck-friendly speed bumps, the new design features channels to allow certain tires to pass through without slowing down. If you’ve encountered them while biking, what did you think? Where do you want to see more installed? Let PBOT know.

Eat

A new restaurant on Northwest 23rd Avenue shares the culture and flavors of Tel Aviv. Zula opened last week and serves what may be the most carefully constructed hummus in Portland — along with other small plates, skewers, desserts, and seasonal house sodas and cocktails — in an inviting, playful atmosphere. (Eater Portland)

Opening

Portland cidery Reverend Nat’s will open a taproom this Friday, March 24 next to the Farmhouse Carts food cart pod in the Richmond neighborhood. The location will serve a dozen of its own brews, as well as seasonal and nonalcoholic ciders and six beers. (Beervanablog.com)

Ranked

In news that makes us say “well, duh” — the Willamette Valley is officially one of the best places in the world. Time Magazine included it in its 2023 roundup, alongside bucket-list destinations like Budapest and Vienna, calling it “the next Napa.” Try our roadtrip itinerary to Oregon wine country. (TIME)

Finance

Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment. *

Shop

If your vacuum isn’t picking up dirt and debris like it used to, it may be time for a new one. This handheld Shark vacuum is lightweight, cordless, and highly rated on Amazon. Or splurge on the Dyson V11 Cordless Vacuum that sucks up particles as small as allergens and bacteria.
To celebrate the first day of spring, refresh your home with tea towels by Jessica Reynolds and find your city print by Signet Sealed, which can all be found in our online shop (Six & Main). Now, that’s how you start the new season.

Seasonal

🌱 Happy first day of spring

A yard full of small, five-petaled pale purple flowers among early spring grass.

Crocuses are some of the first flowers to bloom every spring. | Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday

Today marks the spring equinox (aka the first day of spring).

Technically speaking, it’s the day that the sun crosses the Earth’s equator from the Southern Hemisphere into the Northern Hemisphere. The shift marks the astronomical start of spring and days will become “longer” because there will be more time between sunrise and sunset.

Looking to celebrate the season? Head to our events page to see community events happening this week and beyond. If you’re up for spending some time outside with your pooch, our guide to dog parks around Portland will point you in the right direction.

If you’re in the mood for some spring cleaning, here are the essentials we recommend:

🧽 Mr. Clean Magic Erasers

💧 Microfiber cleaning cloths

🧹 Duster kit

🍓 Refrigerator organizer bins

🧼 Spinning scrubber brush

Bonus: Hire a cleaning professional to tidy up your humble abode.

The Wrap

Today’s Edition By:
Cambrie Juarez

From the Editor

Allergies are already starting to hammer at my sinuses, but I won’t let them keep me from visiting Portland’s incredible outdoor spaces this spring. If you’re also feeling besieged by airborne pollen, here’s an article explaining why. And if you’re like me and want to have some advance warning, check out this online forecast tool that explains which allergens are affecting your area.

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