We Are Building Three New Playgrounds!
In 2023, Portland Parks Foundation (PPF), The Rose City Park Playground Project, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), and community champions like you built an incredible new playground in Rose City Park. What was once a space with broken, outdated, and inaccessible equipment, has been transformed into a safe, welcoming space where more than 2,000 neighborhood children now have a fantastic place to learn, stay healthy, and connect.
Building on that momentum, PPF, in partnership with PP&R, launched the Everybody Plays Playground Campaign in 2024 to replace three failing and inaccessible playgrounds in George Park (North Portland), Raymond Park (East Portland), and Portland’s Heights Park (Strohecker’s) in SW Portland with new, modern, and inclusive structures.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of 38 donors, we have raised the funds needed to build these playgrounds! We are so grateful for our community support to be able to bring safe, accessible play spaces to over 4,500 households across our city.
Everybody Plays Project Updates
Raymond Park - East Portland
Current Stage: Construction underway!
Ready to play: Winter 2026
Design firm: David Evans and Associates
Raymond Park, a 6.11-acre green space in East Portland's Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood, is set to receive a significant upgrade. Its existing playground, serving over 1,600 local households, is being replaced with a modern, inclusive, and accessible structure designed for children aged 2 to 12. This new play area will feature smooth rubber surfacing for enhanced accessibility, along with diverse elements like sensory stations, group rockers, and a communication board, all informed by extensive community feedback. While the park already boasts updated basketball courts and an accessible restroom, the new playground, with construction starting after August 26, 2025, and an anticipated opening in Fall 2025, promises to transform it into an even more vibrant and welcoming space for the community.
George Park - North Portland
Current Stage: Community engagement/design development
Ready to play: Summer 2028
Design firm: Knot Studio
George Park, located at N. Burr Avenue and Fessenden Street in North Portland's St. Johns neighborhood is on the cusp of a significant transformation. For years, this 2-acre park has been described as "forgotten" by many in the community, with a playground in need of urgent replacement and overall infrastructure lacking. In addition to PPF’s commitment to raise private funds to replace the playground at George Park, a local advocacy group, The Kidz Outside, also secured additional City and State funding for a full park redesign. Community input is central to the redesign, which also aims to improve lighting, pathways, and overall accessibility, potentially adding features like a loop pathway and a basketball court. George Park is set to become a vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive hub for the nearly 3,000 households it serves, particularly the students from the four surrounding public schools.
Raymond Park existing playground.
Portland Heights Park - Southwest Portland
Current Stage: Community Engagement complete, final design pending
Ready to play: Fall 2026
Design Firm: GreenWorks
Portland Heights Park, affectionately known to many as "Strohecker's" due to its proximity to the former market, is a significant part of the Southwest Hills neighborhood. Located at SW Patton Road and Old Orchard Road, this 2.87-acre park is a cherished community space, offering multiple ball fields and an accessible restroom. However, its current playground, serving over 500 households, has aged beyond its functional lifespan and lacks modern accessibility and inclusivity features. Through this campaign, Portland Heights Park is poised to receive a completely new, safer, and more engaging play area with rubber safety tiles and equipment designed for a wide range of users. Community input has been a vital part of the design process, with a Play Day event and online survey recently held to gather preferences. Construction for this eagerly awaited upgrade is slated for Summer 2026, promising a revitalized and truly inclusive space for children and families in Southwest Portland.
Portland Heights Park existing playground.
Contributions to the Everybody Plays Playground Campaign
$100,000+
The Walker Family Foundation
$50,000+
Molly Boyle and Charles Burns
Kuni Foundation
$25,000+
Joseph & Elizabeth Hoffart Charitable Foundation
$5,000+
Autzen Foundation
Ellen Nusblatt
$1,000+
Kregg Arntson
Janice Hoffman
Jessica and Jordon Lubahn
Gil M. Wistar
Nora Xu
Up to $1000
James Boehnlein
Claude and Lucia Bosworth
Stacy Peterson
Joanna Cain
Dunbar and Janis Carpenter
Anne Churchill
Colette Coles
Barbara and Ken Custer-Swails
Judith Young Farmer
Barbara and Ken Francis
Jessica and Matt Green
Jane and Paul Henderson
Megan and Elliot Howard
Martha Ireland
Ashley Jamison
Christopher and Kelly Klavins
Mary Moreira
Michael Morgan
Ernest and Anne Munch
Janet Murtagh
Kristin Olson
Daniel Palau
Paige Sanks
Diane Terhune
Ginger Walter
Richard Weil
Want to learn more about the impact of our playground projects? See what the kids are saying this video, or check out the project page to see the impact of this community-led project.