As temperatures in the Portland area are expected to climb into the 90s this weekend, residents can safely dodge the heat by hitting splash pads, fountains and water parks from Gladstone to Vancouver.
According to the National Weather Service, northwest Oregon and southwest Washington will be under an excessive-heat watch from Saturday through Monday, and the area could break a record for the hottest Mother’s Day since 1973.
But don’t fret. Portland and neighboring cities will offer a variety of cool-down options for non-swimmers, cautious bathers and children alike. Here’s where to find them.
Bill Naito Legacy Fountain at Waterfront Park on SW Ankeny Street near the Burnside Bridge will operate 24 hours a day. The park offers clear views of the Willamette River, with proximity to Saturday Market.
Salmon Street Springs fountain at Waterfront Park on SW Naito Parkway at Salmon Street will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The jets form an extravagant circular cluster and spray toward one focal point, creating a dome of water and mist.
Teachers Fountain at Director Park, 815 SW Park Ave., will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The urban park offers ankle-deep water and jets for visitors.
Holladay Park, a fountain at NE 11th Avenue and Holladay Street, will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Jamison Square, 810 NW 11th Ave., will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and features a center fountain that creates a shallow tidal pool.
McCoy Park on N. Trenton Street and Newman Avenue will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The park, adorned with a brand new basketball court, also provides a few fountains to play in.
Portland Parks and Recreation will not be opening splash pads, because “they are on a fixed schedule that automatically begins on June 14,” according to Mark Ross, a spokesperson for the department. But nearby cities will open theirs.
Esther Short Park has a water feature at West 6th and Columbia streets. It opened Wednesday and will operate from dusk to dawn throughout the summer months. Esther Short Park is surrounded by trees, greenery and gazebos to admire after a splash in the water feature’s waterfall.
Columbia River water feature at Vancouver Waterfront Park, 695 Waterfront Way, offers cascading water, spray fountains and wading areas with scenic Columbia River views, open till sunset.
The splash pad at Bornstedt Park in Sandy will open Friday for the warm season, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Children’s Fountain in Gresham, 401 NE 2nd St., will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It has two splash pads, one for toddlers and another for bigger kids with jets and sprays.
Magnolia Park, 1810 NE 102nd Ave., is a 3-acre residential park with plenty of picnic tables, games and a splash pad for the kiddos, open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Butternut Creek Park, 7830 SE Deline St., will also be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering spray fountains, grass and a playground to dry off on.
Walnut Street Park ,1717 SE Walnut St., provides a splash pad with various fountains and mists from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Max Patterson Memorial City Park’s spray park, 400 E Exeter St., will open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. given the heat wave. The facility features water-pouring buckets, fountains and sprays that will open permanently for the summer in June.
If opting for a natural, less predictable body of water such as Sellwood Riverfront Park or the Sandy River, the Oregon State Marine Board urges people to wear a lifejacket and be aware of icy water temperatures, a product of snow runoff.
Cold water shock is a leading cause of drowning.
“Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature,” said Brian Paulsen, boating safety program manager for the Oregon Marine Board in a statement.
— Lisa Moreno; [email protected]
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