In this Park Facility
About Luuwit View Park
(pronounced loo-WIT)
Spread on 16 acres adjacent to Shaver Elementary School in northeast Portland’s Argay neighborhood, Luuwit View Park features a soccer field and basketball court, accessible play and picnic areas, parking, community gardens, a fenced off-leash dog area, and foot and bike paths with expansive views – including a majestic vista of Luuwit (the Native American name for the iconic Mt. St. Helens).
“Recommending an appropriate name was difficult, but ultimately we enjoyed a rewarding outcome,” says Nina Palacios, a member of the Luuwit View naming committee. “I’m excited about the new park, one we’ve been eagerly anticipating for so long. I volunteer at the adjacent Shaver School, and the kids there are bursting with anticipation for their new park! I very much appreciate being a part of the naming process.”
The park’s name helps to honor the indigenous people who first lived on the land, and to recognize the overall history of the area.
“The name ‘Luuwit View Park’ holds meaning on many different levels”, says Cary Watters, a member of the Tlingit Tribe and of the park naming committee. “The fact that this park's name is a Native [Cowlitz] word, and that it honors the traditional way in which our people named places, is a huge step forward in healing - not only for the Native community, but for the land and the at-large community.”
Portland Parks & Recreation originally acquired the Beech Property for the purpose of building a park in the year 1984, and then purchased additional property in 1999. Beech property was a 15.7 acre undeveloped site surrounded by a working farm, single family residences, and Shaver Elementary School in the Argay neighborhood, very close to the Parkrose neighborhood.
The master planning process in 2008 outlined some important features, including a community garden, soccer field, high intensity sports area, fenced off-leash dog area, grassy open space, children’s play area, water play area, and picnic areas. The master plan for this park was adopted by City Council in March 2009. Final design for the park started in 2015 with construction taking place from summer 2016 through fall 2017.
Luuwit View Park will offer expansive views, including a majestic vista of Luuwit - Native (upper Cowlitz) name for Mt. St. Helens. The park’s name helps to honor the indigenous people who have lived on the land since time immemorial, and serves to recognize the overall history of the area.
As of its opening in October of 2017, Luuwit View Park is the largest and most developed park in the Parkrose neighborhood. Luuwit View Park will serve nearly 1,000 Portland households, ones which formerly did not have ready access to a park.
Accessibility Notes
Parking
- Parking lot and street parking
- Four designated parking spaces (2 van, 2 car)
- Paved pathway to the accessible play area
- 80 feet to play area
Play Area
- Smart surfacing
- Rubberized surface to the merry-go-round
Play Equipment
- Sensory play elements
Other Amenities
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible picnic area