Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is thrilled to provide programming in 2022 with resources from the Parks Local Option Levy (Parks Levy)! Due to the ongoing global pandemic, PP&R will continue to follow public health guidance and deliver safe, fun, and inclusive summer activities.
Summer Safety and COVID-19
Portland Parks & Recreation's primary goal is to keep our community healthy and to protect the public from the spread of COVID-19. PP&R designed summer programming to meet public health guidance and to be flexible as conditions change.
Beginning Saturday, March 12, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) will move to the optional use of face coverings for all staff and participants across every PP&R building. Staff and visitors may continue to wear a face covering, but it will not be required.
This is in alignment with new public health guidance and direction from the City of Portland and from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Multnomah County Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
For any other City info related to COVID-19, please visit portland.gov/novel-coronavirus-covid-19.
How to register for camps, classes, and offerings
Summer registration is open for activities that take place through July 24. People can begin registering for activities that take place July 25 through August 28 on June 27 at 12:30pm. While some registrations can be done in-person or by phone, the fastest option is to sign up online at portland.gov/parks/register.
General Registration: Register online, over the phone through the Customer Service Center (503-823-2525), or by calling or visiting a recreation or arts center.
Early Registration: 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. PP&R provides information to local community organizations who share early registration opportunities with their community members.
Interested organizations can email parks.recreation@portlandoregon.gov to register as partners or to learn more.
Early Registration is available one week prior to general registration. Partner organizations and their community members can inquire about early registration through the Customer Service Center (503-823-2525) or by calling or visiting a recreation or arts center.
Summer Programming Activities are available to browse.
Work with Portland Parks & Recreation
Thanks to Portland voters and the Parks Levy, PP&R is hiring for seasonal work and for year-round employment. Please visit portland.gov/parks/employment for information and to see all opportunities available within recreation, aquatics, environmental education, maintenance, and more.
Summer programs and offerings
Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation (AIR)
Offering camps and activities specially designed for children, teens, and adults who live with disabilities.
Arts classes and camps
Multnomah Arts Center offers camps, classes, and activities onsite and across the city through Art Pods through the Summer Free For All Free Lunch + Play program. Community Music Center will offer classes and activities at our location, plus outdoor classes at Kenilworth Park.
Community Centers
Portland Parks & Recreation community centers are open for camps, classes, and drop-in activities.
Fitness in the Park
PP&R features outdoor fitness programs such as yoga, exercise, and Zumba classes.
5K Series Fun Runs
Portland Parks & Recreation's annual 5K Fun Run Series are family-friendly 5K races that take place monthly from May through September at parks throughout Portland.
Gateway Discovery Park
Gateway Discovery Park provides free, equitable, and safe programming in collaboration with the community. Gateway Discovery Park is host to Summer Free For All Free Lunch + Play lunch and activities, plus free community events throughout the summer.
Summer Free For All - Free Lunch + Play
Free nutritious meals for youth ages 1-18. Plus free, drop-in activities and special events including art and music activities, pop-up performances, book/reading events, sports, games, and more. No registration required.
Summer Free For All - Events
Summer Free For All has over 40 free concerts, movies, and performances this summer throughout the city. The first-ever East Portland Summer Arts Festival kicks off the summer with two days of fantastic performances at Ventura Park. The Washington Park Summer Festival returns to the Washington Park Amphitheater.
Interactive Fountains and Splash Pads
Interactive fountains are open during park hours starting in mid-May, remaining on through early autumn. Splash pads are open daily from Open June 10, 2022 through Labor Day weekend, between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm.
Ladybug Nature Walks
Guided family programs to connect Portlanders to the natural environment.
Lifelong Recreation (formerly known as Senior Recreation)
Virtual programs and outdoor activities for Portlanders ages 60 and up.
Nature Day Camps
Summer day camps for kids to hike and explore nature.
Virtual Programs
Free Stay and Play videos help Portlanders stay active and connected to PP&R throughout the summer. Videos are available at youtube.com/pdxparksandrec/videos. A limited number of registered, virtual classes will also be available.
Summer Camps
Outdoor day camps, sports, and art camps for ages 5-12 at 20 locations across the city. Camp group sizes are limited and campers will remain with other participants of similar ages.
Swimming pools and lessons
Portland Parks & Recreations owns and operates four indoor pools and seven outdoor pools. Outdoor pools will be open for the summer season Wednesday, June 22 through Sunday, August 28, 2022.
Portland’s Parks Bureau continues to experience the same staffing challenges as nearly all parks and recreation agencies across the country. Specifically, the PP&R aquatics program is affected by ongoing recruitment struggles.
PP&R is not alone. A nationwide survey conducted by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) showed that 88% of park and recreation agencies indicate they are not fully staffed for lifeguards this summer season. This summer, cities such as Phoenix and Austin have said they will only open half of their public pools due to lifeguard shortages, and leading park systems from Chicago to the Washington DC area are cutting back services.
As a result of Portland’s current aquatics staff shortage, when registration opens on Monday, swim lessons will only be available at outdoor pools. This aligns with past and expected community demand, and it allows the Bureau to maximize current capacity. (PP&R’s outdoor pools provide the largest capacity for swim lessons.)
If you or someone you know is interested in joining our staff, we offer lifeguard certification, swim instructor training, and water fitness instructor training classes year-round to prepare and train staff.
- Lifeguards provide safety at pools.
- Swim instructors teach individuals of all ages how to swim.
- Water fitness instructors teach well-rounded and balanced water fitness classes.