Tag Archives: park

Jul201125

Samantha

0

Water, Water Everywhere!

Summer’s prime time for water play, and we’re fortunate to have plenty of options –- both indoors and out -– throughout the metro area. From water parks to fountains to swimming holes and outdoor pools, there’s always somewhere you and your kids can splash and play! INDOOR WATER FUN: Evergreen Wings & Waves Waterpark : The new water park next to McMinnville’s Evergreen Aviation Museum features over 70,000 square feet of spurting, waving, shooting, streaming water play fun! Crowned with a Boeing 747 on the roof –- the starting point for the park’s four largest water slides -– it’s the area’s largest waterpark and the only one that combines traditional slides, pools and water play features with an interactive children’s museum and a cosmic outer space theme. 460 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville. 503-434-4185. evergreenmuseum.org/waterpark . You’ll also find big slides, lazy rivers and other water play features at many public pools around the area. Here are a few of our favorites: North Clackamas Aquatic Center : 7300 SE Harmony Rd., Milwaukie. 503-557-SURF (7873). clackamas.us . Portland Parks & Recreation Pools : Specifically, check out the pools at the East Portland Community Center (740 SE 106th Ave.; 503-823-3450); Mt. Scott Community Center (5530 SE 72nd Ave.; 503-823-3183); and Wilson Pool (an outdoor option; 1151 SW Vermont; 503-823-3680). portlandonline.com . Conestoga Recreation and Aquatic Center : 9985 SW 125th Ave., Beaverton. 503-629-6313. thprd.org . Firstenburg Community Center : 700 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver, Wash. 360-487-7001. cityofvancouver.us . PUBLIC FOUNTAINS: Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden : Grant Park, NE 33rd and US Grant Pl. 503-823-PLAY (7529). portlandonline.com . Blue Lake Park Spray Ground : 20500 NE Marine Dr. 503-797-1850. oregonmetro.gov . City Park Fountain : Fifth and Hall, in front of the library, Beaverton. Esther Short Park : West Columbia and 8th Sts., Vancouver, Wash. Forecourt and Lovejoy Fountains : Between SW 3rd and 4th, at Market (Forecourt) and Hall (Lovejoy). Jamison Square Fountain : Between NW Kearney and Johnson and NW 10th and 11th. Rivercrest SprayPark : 131 Park Drive, Oregon City. 503- 496-1546. orcity.org . Salmon Street Springs : SW Salmon at Waterfront Park. Tanner Creek Park : 3456 Parker Rd., West Linn. 503-557-4700. westlinnoregon.gov . Tualatin Commons : Tualatin-Sherwood Road in Tualatin City Center. NATURAL “SWIMMING HOLES”: Blue Lake Regional Park : Includes a swimming beach for ages 5 and up, a water play area for children under 5, fishing and playgrounds. Boat/canoe rentals on weekends. Off Northeast 223rd Avenue between Marine Dr. and Sandy Blvd., Gresham. 503-797-1850. oregonmetro.gov . Frenchman’s Bar Park : Beach access to the Columbia River, picnic sites, play equipment and more. 9612 NW Lower River Road, Vancouver Wash. 360-619-1111. ci.vancouver.wa.us . Glen Otto Community Park : Sandy River access with swimming beach, picnic areas, and children’s playground. 1102 E Historic Columbia River Hwy. 503-666-8303. ci.troutdale.or.us . Salmon Creek Park : Swimming pond with a lifeguard on duty during the summer. 1112 NE 117th St., Vancouver, Wash. 360-619-1111. ci.vancouver.wa.us . Vancouver Lake Park : Swimming allowed in one section of the lake. 6801 NW Lower River Road (3 miles west of Vancouver on SR-501), Wash. 360-619-1111. ci.vancouver.wa.us . OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOLS: Check out our Family Fun editor’s roundup of outdoor pools around the area. Where does your family like to splash, float, swim and slide?

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Water, Water Everywhere!

Jun201122

Samantha

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Summer Movies & Concerts in Area Parks

Want to get outside and enjoy some family fun this summer? How about a movie or concert in your neighborhood park or swimming pool? Here’s a list of movie and concert series planned for area parks this summer. (Events are free, unless noted.) MOVIES IN THE PARKS: Portland Parks and Recreation: Free movies in area parks from June 26 through Sept. 10. Events begin at 6:30 pm; movies screen at dusk. portlandonline.com . Beaverton Flicks by the Fountain: Watch Tangled on Aug. 12 or Secretariat on Aug. 19 in Beaverton City Park. Fun begins at 8 pm; movies screen at dusk. beavertonoregon.gov . Tualatin Movies on the Commons: Family-friendly flicks at Tualatin Commons every Saturday night July 2 through Aug. 27, beginning at 9 pm. Movies begin after sunset. ci.tualatin.or.us . Lake Oswego Movies in the Park: Free family-friendly movies in Millennium Plaza Park every Thursday from July 21 through Aug. 25, beginning at dusk. ci.oswego.or.us . West Linn Movies in the Park: Free family movies every Saturday in Aug. in Mary S. Young State Park, beginning at dusk. westlinnoregon.gov . DIVE-IN MOVIES: Portland Parks & Recreation: Gnomeo & Juliet is playing at 8 pm at Montavilla Pool (8/24), Creston Pool (8/25), Sellwood Pool (8/26), Wilson Pool (8/27) and Grant Pool (8/28). $5 adults; $3 youth 17 and younger. See the schedule on page 37 of the Summer Aquatic Catalog , or check with individual pools. Wings & Waves Waterpark: Watch Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl on June 24 and Jaws on July 1, both from 8 to 10 pm, at the new Wings & Waves Waterpark in McMinnville. (Check website for future screenings, as scheduled.) $12 per person. (Only the wave pool is accessible during movies.) evergreenmuseum.org . CONCERTS IN THE PARKS: Portland Parks and Recreation: Enjoy live music nearly every evening this summer in parks throughout Portland , with a special series in Washington Park . Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District (THPRD): THPRD presents Concerts and Theater in area parks through Aug. thprd.org . Tualatin Concerts on the Commons: Live music every Friday night in July and Aug. from 6:30 to about 8:30 pm. ci.tualatin.or.us . Lake Oswego Summer Concerts: Evening concerts on Wednesdays and Sundays and noon concerts on Fridays July 6 through Aug. 26. ci.oswego.or.us . West Linn Music in the Park: Live music every Thursday from July 21 through Aug. 18 in Tanner Creek Park. westlinnoregon.gov . Concerts at Esther Short Park: The City of Vancouver, Wash., presents evening concerts on Thursdays and noon concerts on Wednesdays, July 6 through Aug. 11. cityofvancouver.us . Sundown at Ecotrust: Free solar-powered concerts every Thursday from June 30 through July 28, 5:30 to 8:30 pm, plus information about environmental issues and organizations. Ecotrust Natural Capital Center, 721 NW Ninth Ave. ecotrust.org .

Originally posted here:
Summer Movies & Concerts in Area Parks

Jun201106

Samantha

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Vote for Legacy’s “Healthy Kids” Video Winners!

Last month we wrote about a contest sponsored by The Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel called “Healthy Kids Are Happy Kids,” which encouraged local families to create short videos sharing how they live healthy lives. Now it’s time to vote for the winners , with prizes including a family trip to the Oregon Coast (first place), a private kid’s cooking class (second place) and a fun-filled bowling party (third place). From playing baseball, basketball and Microsoft Kinect to break dancing and hula hooping to frolicking in the park, making a smiley salad and more, local families shared some of the diverse ways they keep their kids active, happy and healthy. And with only about a dozen families participating, not only are the odds of winning pretty good, but it’s easy to watch them all and vote for your favorite ! You can vote for three each day from now until June 14th. Winners will be announced June 20. ( NOTE: You’ll need to be logged into Facebook to see the page and to vote.) We’d like to wish all the healthy and creative families who participated the best of luck!

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Vote for Legacy’s “Healthy Kids” Video Winners!

Mar201129

PDXrover

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Crystal Falls

The Second Falls at McDowell Creek Park as we move down from Majestic Falls at the top of the Park

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Crystal Falls

Nov201004

PDXrover

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National parks will be free on Veterans Day

It's one of several fee-free days the park system has offered this year.

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National parks will be free on Veterans Day

Sep201014

Samantha

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Weekend Guide: Sept. 17 – 19

From the popular Mt. Angel Oktoberfest, to PARK(ing) Day, a pirate festival and a parade, it will be an eventful weekend.

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Weekend Guide: Sept. 17 – 19

Aug201030

Samantha

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Our September Issue

Our September issue — which is out this week — is a favorite with Metro Parent staff because it includes the winners of our Readers’ Family Favorites contest. No one knows “family-friendly” better than our readers, and we’re thrilled once again to share all of your favorite places to eat, shop, work out, watch movies and just generally have tons of fun. Check it out to find out what gems your family has yet to discover. As we head back into the school year, our September issue also offers advice for raising kids who are scientifically literate at every age and stage. It’s not that we want them all to end up with careers in science, it’s just that we want them to grow up enthusiastic about exploration and discovery. We also explore childhood speech disorders , shedding light on the different types of speech disorders children can experience, the warning signs we should all learn to recognize, and how to get help as early as possible if you think your child might need it. You’ll find all your favorite regular features, too, including a Viewpoint offering an update on autism research presented by specialists from Oregon Health & Science University’s Center for Spoken Language Understanding; an Angels Among Us column introducing you to the Native American Youth and Family Center ; a late summer party in the park in Going Places with Ramona ; and a review of Pizzicato Pizza , a delicious treat for you and your school, in our Family Fare column. Of course our Family Calendar is filled to the brim with exciting activities every day of the month. While we think you’ll find the best of the Portland metro area in every issue of Metro Parent , this issue in particular reminds us of how lucky we are to live – and to raise our children! – in the Portland metro area! Pick up your copy today, or read it online beginning September 1.

Link:
Our September Issue

Aug201004

Samantha

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Summertime and Screen Time

A few years ago, I wrote an article about TV-free families. One thing I that really struck me was that many of the parents I spoke with told me summer is the easiest time to go screen-free. One family limits television to a few weekend hours during the school year, then unplugs completely during summer. Another mom didn’t nix screen time with her boys until they were in preschool. Because it can be more difficult to eliminate TV after kids are used to watching it (rather than starting as babies), she waited to institute the policy in summer when they’d have plenty of activities to keep their minds off TV. “It was kind of hard at first but they got used to it,” she said. “After they had spent three months without any TV, they forgot about it basically and they never ask for it anymore.” (At that time, they were 10 and 11 years old.) While I haven’t been successful in silencing the television – or the Wii – completely, I do find it easier to send my son (along with his friends and our neighbors) outdoors to play during summer than it is in the dead of winter. Of course, it often takes more of my energy to re-focus their energy – whether that means a trip to the park or the swimming pool, an afternoon of baking or berry picking, or a few hours sharing some favorite board games or puzzles – but in the end it seems well worth it. (Check out this article for more ideas to get your kids minds off electronic entertainment and onto real-life fun.) Do your kids spend more or less time in front of screens (whether watching TV or movies, playing Wii or computer games, or texting their friends) during the summer? How do you help them refocus their attention away from the small and large screen and onto something a little more tangible?

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Summertime and Screen Time

Jun201025

Samantha

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‘Twilight’ actor to appear at PDX park

Actor Cameron Bright will be at Colonel Summers Park Saturday evening for a 'Movies in the Park screening of “Twilight: New Moon.”

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‘Twilight’ actor to appear at PDX park

Jun201009

Samantha

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North entrance to Crater Lake is open

The popular north entrance to Crater Lake National Park has opened for the tourist season despite a lot of snow in the park.

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North entrance to Crater Lake is open