Discovery Meadows

McMinnville has some of the best parks in Oregon. Between Discovery Meadows, City Park, and the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum your kids will be amazed at your super power park knowledge! I know it may be a bit of a drive, but summer is coming and Mcminnville is a great day trip.  Plus there are plenty of coffee shops along the way!

Discovery Meadows is one of my kids favorite parks mainly because it is big!  It has such a variety of play structures because so many manufactures are represented like KOMPAN, Landscape Structures and Play Power, Inc.  One thing I particulallry like is the big boulder because it is the largest rock climbing wall I’ve seen at an outside playground. In addition, KOMPAN has their amazing supernova along with some structures for children ages 2-5 years old.  Landscape Structure has a fun and rare log roll. Plus there is also a cool train and make-believe house from Miracle, a Play Power company.

The main structure consists of what I would call a playground castle, with 3 large twisty tube slides, a regular swoosh slide, an awesome fun spinner one can sit on, cool climbers that I haven’t seen at other parks, fun panels in which kids can learn about space or play tic toe and so much more. Last summer there was a fun stand up tetter-totter, but currently it is out. I hope they put it back because it is a unique feature. There is also a fun glider and the sand pit is phenomenal! In the middle of the sand pit is a little mountain in which my kids call the volcano. It is similar to the red hills at Murase except without the big slide and the small hill is surrounded by sand. I do advise you to inform you children to be careful because I’ve seen kids run up and down, and get hurt because there is sand on the red hill/volcano. Since this sandpit is so big and well designed it even has a digger in which kids can dig and move sand.  There is plenty of open space if you have bigger kids who would like to play soccer, or there is also a skate park off in the distance. Besides all the fun I’ve listed there are also water fountains. 

The only down side to this park is some of the structures are a bit aged and the tables next to the sand could definitely be remodeled or updated for a fun game of checkers. Despite age, this park has it all!  There are plenty of benches and tables to sit and this park is truly one your kids will remember for a lifetime. So come check out the wonder and start to imagine what you and your children will discover at Discovery Meadows.

Click on the City of McMinnville to find out their description of Discovery Meadows Community Park.

Click on maps for directions to Discover Meadows Community Park

Checker tables need to be remodeled.

This was the unique teeter totter that was missing the last time we went.

Sellwood Park

The majority of Portland Parks are great for hot summer days because they are older and have a great amount of shade.  In fact, this week Peninsula Park celebrated its 100th Birthday!  I don’t know if Sellwood Park is a hundred, but there is definitely plenty of shade.  There is also plenty of space for your kids to run and play.  Sellwood Park has multiple structures and activities from swing sets, to teeter-totters, a tire swing, a big structure along with a smaller structure, a classic stainless steel slide, and the popular Supernova from Kompan.  It seems as if Portland Parks & Recreation have added the Supernova to a few Portland Parks, which adds a bit of fun, and modernizes these classic parks.  So if it is too hot, go enjoy a nice shady park and have fun Playing in Portland!

Click on Portland Parks & Recreation to see their description of Sellwood Park.

Click on maps for directions to Sellwood Park.

Sofia Park

Sofia Park is an intimate park with a whole lot of fun! It is in a beautiful neighborhood and like Elizabeth Caruthers Park it has a Farmers Market on Thursdays with live music from 4-8p.m. The playground consists of a modern structure from KOMPAN mixed with natural play including rocks, logs and water. KOMPAN has designed the fun and innovating Supernova along with other equipment your kids can spin, climb, jump, bounce, slide, shout and play on! I mentioned this park has water, which for detail sake consists of a low-key splash pad/fountains! Overall, this park is absolutely fabulous!  My kids played here for a lot longer than they originally thought because they initially couldn’t see ALL THE ROCKS and logs they could climb on! The modern and natural landscape of this park is so beautiful that you and your kids will want to return.

Click on City of Wilsonville in Oregon to see their description of Sofia Park.

Click on maps or Sofia Park for directions to this park.

Snyder Park

Snyder Park is amazing! It may end up being one of your kids’ favorite parks once they experience its entire splendor. There is water, sand, modern climbing structures, the latest spinners, big rocks, nice bathrooms, and a cleaning shower station (so your kids can wipe of the dirt and mud and actually come home semi-clean)! Since the park has so many amenities you will probably want to move around with your kid(s), but don’t worry, as there are plenty of places to sit. There are big wooden benches throughout the playground area, as well as big cement blocks that kids may climb on, and/or you may sit on. Please note the cement blocks may get hot from the sun, but there are also shady trees to sit under. When you decide to come to Snyder Park, plan on hanging out for a while, and after a long day you can go Sherwood’s finest coffee shop Symposium, which proudly serves Stumptown coffee. They even serve Kombucha! You won’t be disappointed! So pack up the car, and get ready for a fun day at Synder Park! Your kids will LOVE IT!

Click on maps or Synder Park for directions to this park.