In this Park Facility
Gabriel Park Nature Patch
Designed in partnership with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, the Gabriel Park Nature Patch includes native and ornamental flowering shrub beds with natural seating and habitat features. The nature patch, across from the community garden and orchard, overlooks a beautiful meadow to the north that has over thirty varieties of native forbs, grasses, and wildflowers to support native pollinators.
Learn more about Nature Patches in Portland
Portland Parks & Recreation is adding nature patches to developed park landscapes to provide natural experiences for people and habitat for wildlife. Nature patches are unique natural garden spaces that support native pollinators and offer fun opportunities for education and exploration.
Skatepark
Constructed in 2008, the skatepark is 10,000 square feet, featuring 8,000 square feet of snake run and 2,000 square feet of unique perimeter features including a wallride, pump bumps, transition trench, and vert transition to slappy curb. The snake run includes a 9-ft-deep bowl with concrete coping and tractor seat; the midsection has three hips and a rolled lip design.
Gabriel Park Inclusive Playground Project
Thanks to funding from the Parks Replacement Bond and System Development Charges, Gabriel Park's playground will be replaced with a new, more inclusive and accessible play area. The playground is located at SW 37th Avenue and SW Vermont Street. Read more on the Gabriel Park Inclusive Playground Project page.
Gabriel Park Trail and Signage Project Is Complete!
Project Background
Gabriel Park is an 89-acre hybrid park, acquired by the City in 1950, with a wide range of facilities and activities, including a community center, skate park, sand volleyball court, two dog off-leash areas, a playground, paved paths, and a community garden and orchard. It also hosts approximately 30 acres of natural area, including a pollinator meadow and nature patch, a free-flowing section of Vermont Creek, and nature trails.
In 2020, PP&R’s City Nature Trails Team and the site ecologist identified soft-surface nature trails within the Gabriel Park natural area to be “formalized” for redesign, reconstruction, and closures for problematic areas. Trails assessed as poorly designed, constructed, or located were rerouted. Trails determined to impact natural resources overly were closed for reclamation. The design of the trails, signage, and other improvements are intended to provide sustainable access to the natural area while reducing off-trail use. Off-trail activity creates unsanctioned trails and harms wildlife, plants, and waterways. Permanent, low-impact, simple signage has been installed to provide users with directional information to stay on trails within the Gabriel Park natural area.
Goals for this trails project included:
- Create ecological improvements to the riparian and forested areas
- Decrease off-trail activity and impacts to sensitive areas
- Reduce erosion and the spread of invasive species
- Promote sustainable public access
- Provide a better space for educational programming
- Improve user experience and safety
- Provide better connectivity to SW trail routes through the park
Project Timeline
Trail clearing and construction work began in winter 2021. Some trails have been improved and/or realigned and some closed
PP&R worked with community stakeholders to finalize trail routes and names. Stakeholders help PP&R set goals to create long-term community partnerships and volunteer/stewardship opportunities. During this process, the community was invited to provide input and participate in volunteer trail maintenance events to help implement the recommended changes.
Permanent signs placed on sustainably sourced restoration juniper posts began being installed in Fall 2022 and completed by December 2022. These new signs are located at trail intersections and have trail names as well as directions to Gabriel Park features (Community Gardens, Dog off-leash areas, playgrounds etc.) and connections to SW Trail Routes.
Trail improvements, including reroutes and trail closures, began in 2022 and finished in the spring of 2024.
For any questions or feedback about the information below, please feel free to contact the PP&R Trail’s Coordinator at jill.vanwinkle@portlandoregon.gov or the Site Ecologist at maha.guliani@portlandoregon.gov.
Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Node (BEECN)
A Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Node (pronounced beacon) is a place to go in Portland after a major earthquake to ask for emergency assistance if phone service is down, or report severe damage or injury. More information can be found on the Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Node page.
Swiss immigrant Ulrich Gabriel arrived in 1890 and eventually bought and farmed property south of what is now Vermont Street, and operated the Pine Creek Dairy. He raised corn, wheat, and potatos, but his main income came from his dairy herd.
In October 1950, the city purchased an 87-acre tract of land featuring two small creeks and wooded areas between Vermont and Canby Streets for $120,000. Part of the property, referred to as Gabriel Acres, gave the park its name.
Accessibility Notes
Parking
- Parking lot
- 2 designated parking spaces
- Paved pathway to play area with slight slope
- 200 feet to play area
Play Area
- Engineered mulch surface
- Rubberized surface at transfer station
- Ramp into play area
Play Equipment
- Transfer station
- Sensory play elements
Other Amenities
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible picnic table