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Winter weather: office closure, emergency shelters and city services
  • City offices, community centers, arts centers, and city recreation facilities are closed Friday, Feb. 14, due to winter weather.
  • Shelters are open all day Friday, until 10 a.m. Saturday. More information: Multco.us/Cold.
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Portland is a Sanctuary City

Find sanctuary city resources from the City of Portland's Immigrant & Refugee Program, including free legal services and state resources for reporting hate crimes, bias incidents, discrimination, and violations of Oregon's sanctuary laws.

Portland Parks Preschool

Information
Preschoolers playing together with blocks
Portland Parks & Recreation is dedicated to providing a play-based, child-centered, and inclusive educational preschool program for ages 3–5 years old. Play is an important avenue for learning. It is our goal to honor where each child is in their development.
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About Portland Parks Preschool

Portland Parks Preschool is based on the developmental philosophy that children develop and grow at their own rate. Years of research on children's learning and development documents the many benefits of play and exploration on a child's intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and language development. In order to grow, children must play by exploring and manipulating their environment. They learn using their senses. Play is an important avenue for learning. As children imitate what goes on around them, they begin to understand how things work and how they are used. Initially, this is a process of trial and error. However, with time and repetition, they use new information to increase their understanding of the world around them.


Equity in Service

Portland Parks & Recreation is committed to equity in service. As part of our Parks Levy commitment, we are working to improve access for underserved communities, which include but are not limited to people of color, seniors, teens, households experiencing poverty, immigrants and refugees, and people living with disabilities. If you were referred by a Partner Organization, please make sure to include them during the application process.


How to Register 

Registration for the 2024-2025 school year has closed. If you have a child who will be 3 by September 1, 2025 you will be able to apply for the 2025-2026 school year. If you are interested in an open space during the current school year, please email Kristi.lilly@portlandoregon.gov

Information on the 2025-2026 school year will be published in March 2025, applications for new families will open in April 2025.


Access Discount Program - Reduced Pricing

 Thanks to the Parks Local Option Levy, Portland residents can get a discount on program and activity fees. Use the discount for community center and pool admission, preschool and after-school programs, classes, camps, swim lessons, and more.

To get a discount, first register for the Access Discount Program, select a discount amount, and then use it for select activities. No proof of income is required. Discount is valid for 12 months from registration date. Go to any community or arts center for more information about how to register.

Choose a discount: 25, 50, 75, or 90%

Learn more about the Access Discount Program 


Locations

Below is a list of locations for Portland Parks Preschool. 

East Portland

East Portland Community Center

Montavilla Community Center

North Portland

Charles Jordan Community Center

Peninsula Park Community Center 

St.  Johns Community Center

Southeast Portland

Laurelhurst Park (located in the former Laurelhurst Dance Studio for school year 2024-25)

Mt. Scott Community Center (returning to Mt. Scott in fall 2025)

Woodstock Community Center

Southwest Portland

Southwest Community Center

Location

Charles Jordan Community Center

Community And Arts Center
Park Location or Entrance
9009 N Foss Avenue
Portland, OR 97217

East Portland Community Center

Community And Arts Center
Park Location or Entrance
740 SE 106th Avenue
Portland, OR 97216

Matt Dishman Community Center

Community And Arts Center
Park Location or Entrance
77 NE Knott Street
Portland, OR 97212

Montavilla Community Center

Community And Arts Center
Park Location or Entrance
8219 NE Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97220

Mt. Scott Community Center

Community And Arts Center
Park Location or Entrance
Mt. Scott Community Center and Indoor Pool is closed for extensive renovation. Please visit other PP&R locations.
5530 SE 72nd Avenue
Portland, OR 97206

Peninsula Park Community Center

Community And Arts Center
Park Location or Entrance
700 N Rosa Parks Way
Portland, OR 97217

Southwest Community Center

Community And Arts Center
Park Location or Entrance
6820 SW 45th Avenue
Portland, OR 97219

St. Johns Community Center

Community And Arts Center
Park Location or Entrance
8427 N Central Street
Portland, OR 97203

Woodstock Community Center

Community And Arts Center
Park Location or Entrance
5905 SE 43rd Avenue
Portland, OR 97206
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