Portland Heights Park Playground Project

Project Updates

March 2026

Portland Parks & Recreation is in the process of selecting a site contractor for the playground improvements at Portland Heights Park.

All the existing playground equipment in both areas of the park will be removed, and the lower play area will be expanded.

Construction activity will begin later this spring and is expected to continue through the summer. An update will be posted before contractors are mobilized to the site.

Project Overview

Portland Heights Park opened in 1945 and is 5.08 acres. The first playground at Portland Heights Park was built between 1925-1927.

Currently there are two playground areas in addition to basketball and tennis courts, as well as a softball field and seasonal soccer filed.  There is a picnic table, accessible restroom, paved and unpaved paths. Over the years, the playground equipment has aged and surpassed its functional lifespan. To address this, the current renovation project aims to replace outdated equipment with modern, safer structure and upgrade the play surfacing to improve accessibility.

Portland Heights playground is being renovated in partnership with the Portland Parks Foundation Everybody Plays Playground Campaign! When finished there will be new play equipment with an accessible play surface. 

Project Timeline

Fall 2024 - Spring 2025:  Design Development and Community Engagement 
Winter 2025 - Spring 2025:  Construction Documents
Summer 2025- Fall 2025:  Permitting and Bidding
Spring 2026- Summer 2026:  Construction

Community Engagement 

Final Playground Design

Based on community feedback and technical analysis, the playground will be expand in the current location near the basketball court.

Expanding the existing lower playground makes the most sense based on the following benefits: 

• Afternoon shade, more comfortable for play during summer months
• Keeps current field options available, supporting more park users
• Avoid major impacts to current irrigation and drainage systems
• Easy access to the service road / pathway to the lower bowl

View full size image of Rendered image of the new playground at Portland Heights Park.

View full size image of Rendered image of the new playground at Portland Heights Park.

Survey Results and Feedback

We gathered input from neighbors and park users through two in-person events, online survey, and interactive design boards created by our project team.  Neighbors and park visitors were asked to help shape the project and more than 110 people participated by sharing feedback online and in person. Here is what we heard: 

Playground Location 

Location A- Expanded Lower Area

• Some concerns about fencing along basketball court and noise for young children 

Location B- New Lower Location 

• Positives were access to adjacent parking lot, more central and accessible for strollers or mobility devices. Some concerns about limited shade and potential drainage issues
• Slightly more votes in person, but also a lot of comments about shade and loss of space for the sports fields.
• Staff review showed greater benefits for staying in the current area.

Playground Design

Participants were invited to choose between two design styles: Treehouse and Mountain Getaway.

Treehouse was the clear favorite, especially among children. People liked that it felt more playful and natural in the wooded park setting.

• Offers better climbing features
• Appeals to a wider age range
• Fits in with surrounding trees
• We also heard from several people that the tall slide and merry-go-round were crowd pleasures in the park. The design team has been asked to try to incorporate similar elements into the playground for the final design.

Upper Picnic Area Layout

Two layout options were shared for the picnic area near the upper playground.

Clustered Picnic Tables were preferred, especially at in-person events. People said this layout works better for group use like birthday parties, family gatherings, and community events.

Online: Slight preference for Individual Tables

In person: Clustered Tables received more votes overall

Thank you to everyone who shared their time and input on the design! 

Community Survey

The survey's goal was to gather community preferences for design options, layout selections, and share insights to the park space. 

The survey was open June 7, 2025 through June 29, 2024. 

Community Play Day 

Saturday, June 7 | 10:00am-1:00pm  

Thank you for joining the Community Play Day at Portland Heights Park! We had a great time playing games, crafting, and sharing the project designs. 

Big thank you to the vendors who helped bring the fun to our Saturday- Lincoln Youth Little League , Free Arts NW, Friends of Hoyt Arboretum,  Make Art PDX, Heightscream Ice Cream Truck, Dream Big City, and Rec Tennis. 

Lots of gratitude for our advocate, project partner, and Community Play Day co-host- Portland Parks Foundation (PPF)!  The ongoing support and hard work from PPF are what makes this project possible, please be sure to check out their programs and Everybody Plays Playground Campaign! 

Stay Informed and Involved

We want to make sure you have the newest information

Stay informed and added to the email list for updates on the Portland Heights Park Playground Project, please contact the Community Engagement Coordinator at:

Jenna.Stathopoulos@portlandoregon.gov or (503) 201-6765