Читать книгу Discovering Portland Parks - Owen Wozniak - Страница 9

A quiet summer morning at High Rocks Park. (Photo by Monica Vogel)

How to Use This Book

The park entries are divided into seven sections, working outward from the center. The first section, covering downtown and Northwest Portland, showcases parks ranging from lively, hardscaped urban plazas to the wildest recesses of giant Forest Park. The next sections cover North, Northeast, and Southeast Portland west of Interstate 205. These older neighborhoods are blessed with many stately parks dating from the early twentieth century.

From here, the book jumps over the Willamette River and the West Hills to the Tualatin Valley, sampling a few of the many excellent parks in Southwest Portland and the towns of Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Tigard. This section also includes some natural areas along the Tualatin River and farther-flung destinations tucked in the Coast Range foothills.

The book then loops back to the region’s heart and soul, the Willamette River, visiting the best parks and natural areas upstream from Portland. If your view of the river is limited to the seawall downtown, you owe it to yourself to discover just how lush and natural the river can be.

Completing the circle, the book heads east to visit parks—many of them larger natural areas—east of I-205. This part of the region has fewer compelling neighborhood parks, but more than compensates with scenic buttes and access to the wild and beautiful Clackamas and Sandy Rivers. Finally, the journey ends across the biggest river of them all, the mighty Columbia, with a mix of urban plazas, neighborhood parks, and natural areas in and around Vancouver, Washington.

ABOUT THE PARK ENTRIES

The entries are designed to give you relevant facts at the top, then a flavor for the place within the text. Here’s a quick rundown of the components.

Icons These highlight what I feel are the key features—the reasons you should visit each park.

Location If a park has a main entrance, I use the street address; otherwise I provide a general description or a convenient intersection. Entries for parks that aren’t in Portland include the city or county location as well.

Maps Due to space constraints, I include maps for only a handful of parks, typically those with many points of entry or an abundance of features. You can find maps from the park agencies; the Northwest Family Daycation app also provides a great one-stop shop for park maps and information.

Acreage For parks over ten acres, I round to the nearest acre.

Amenities The word “path” describes a paved and generally accessible route; “trail” indicates a soft surface that may or may not be accessible—I try to note which. Remember that some amenities, including restrooms and drinking fountains, close seasonally in some parks.

Jurisdiction This indicates who manages the park. A full list of websites is at the back of the book.

Getting There The Portland region is getting ever more congested, so ease of access factored into my park choices. Please take transit, walk, or bike whenever possible!

By Car: Driving directions commence from the nearest major freeway. Where the directions include a distance greater than three-quarters of a mile between turns, I specify the distance.

By Transit: Most entries refer to TriMet, the agency that operates the MAX Light Rail and buses throughout the region. In the central city, you can also ride the Portland Streetcar with a TriMet ticket. The C-TRAN bus system provides service for much of Vancouver and Clark County in Washington. It connects to TriMet at the Expo Center MAX station. (C-TRAN also operates express buses from downtown Portland, mostly on weekdays. These are oriented toward commuters and less useful for park visitors, so I largely omit them.)

Transit directions assume you start downtown. If a bus route runs in two directions from downtown, I specify which direction to take. I also include a rating for the “hassle” factor: three stars indicates a straightforward, if not necessarily quick, trip with no transfers and minimal walking; two stars suggests a transfer and/or some walking; one star could mean multiple transfers, limited service on certain days of the week, and/or a long walk.

By Bike: For biking, I use similar ratings. Three stars indicates a car-free path suitable for all riders. Two stars indicates a straightforward approach via bike lanes and/or quiet streets. One star indicates a route requiring competent bike skills due to hills, distance, or busy roads. For some entries, I provide a recommended route if it’s especially scenic and/or bike-friendly. For other entries, consult the excellent Bike There! map and app created by Metro.

WHAT THE ICONS MEAN

The icons in each entry summarize each park’s defining features.

Accessible

Kid-friendly

Dog-friendly

Barbecue grills

Gardens

Historical or cultural significance

Natural areas

Paths or trails

Public art

Views

Water access

Accessible The park—in particular restrooms, parking areas, and paths—is generally accessible to people with mobility issues.

Kid-Friendly There is a play structure and/or other kid-focused feature like a splash pad.

Dog-Friendly There is a dog off-leash area, fenced dog park, or adequate space for a dog to roam without breaking rules or hassling others. (Note: dogs are not allowed in parks operated by Metro.)

Barbecue Grills Some require reservations, so check with the relevant park agency.

Gardens This means formal gardens, not community garden plots.

Historical or Cultural Significance The park has historical significance or commemorates a past era.

Natural Areas The park has substantial areas of natural habitat.

Paths or Trails There are paved paths or soft-surface trails geared toward walking or running.

Public Art You’ll find major artworks that merit a visit for their own sake.

Views You know, views!

Water Access There is a beach, boat launch, or swimming area; none have lifeguards except where noted.

A FINAL NOTE

I have visited every park in the book and have done my best to verify all details. I take sole responsibility for errors and welcome your corrections—and your differing opinions! You can reach me through Mountaineers Books.

The information in this book is based on the research and expertise of the author. It is incumbent upon readers to confirm park details, such as hours, fees, facilities, or transit access, and to be aware of any changes in public guidelines, jurisdiction, or other city, county, or state regulations. The publisher and author are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any of the suggestions presented in this book.

Strolling above the reservoirs at Mount Tabor Park.