Playing Around Portland

Monday, June 20, 2016

Manuel Valverde Park - Lathrop, CA - 8.7.12

Manuel Valverde Park

Lathrop, CA























Posted by molly at 7:44 PM No comments:
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Labels: Beyond Portland: Manuel Valverde Park - Lathrop CA, Year: 2012

Hillendale Park - Oregon City - 7.7.13

Hillendale Park

Oregon City, OR













Posted by molly at 6:50 PM No comments:
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Labels: Place: Oregon City, Year: 2013

Ocean View Park - Half Moon Bay, CA - 8.12.12

Ocean View Park

Half Moon Bay, CA
































Posted by molly at 6:44 PM No comments:
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Labels: Beyond Portland: Ocean View Park - Half Moon Bay CA, Year: 2012
Newer Posts Older Posts Home
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Why I Photograph Playgrounds

In the early 2000s, I realized that playgrounds were a great place to take abstract photographs. Playground structures' colors, shapes, textures, angles, and shadows could all contribute to some really cool shots.

In 2006, "Playing Around Portland" (aka The Project) began: I went online, printed off a list of nearly every park with a playground in Portland, and began visiting them one by one. I didn't take photos at every park -- some just didn't have anything to inspire me. But others were a treasure trove of photographic bliss.

While on my quest to visit as many playgrounds in Portland as possible, I became aware of the fact that several of the playground structures I'd loved as a child had been replaced by newer (and often less interesting) models. I figured it was only a matter of time before the very structures I was photographing then would be ripped out to make way for new things. Documenting these playgrounds for posterity became a growing concern. And sure enough, several of these playgrounds have had big changes since 2006.

These days, I don't typically seek out new playgrounds, but if I happen to pass one that looks interesting, I may stop and take photos. I'm also trying to revisit playgrounds I've already photographed to see if and how they've changed.

Stats! (Updated 8.7.25)

First Park Visited: April 2006

Last Park Visited: August 2025

PDX-Area Parks Photographed: 50

Elsewhere Parks Photographed: 15

Portland-Area Playgrounds

  • *Alberta Park
  • *Bella Vista Park
  • *Berrydale Park
  • *Blue Lake Park
  • *Bridger K-8 School
  • *Century Oaks Park
  • *Colonel Summers Park
  • *Couch Park
  • *DeWitt Park
  • *Dobbin Park
  • *Donald L. Robertson City Park
  • *Farragut Park
  • *Fernhill Park
  • *Franciscan Montessori Earth School
  • *Frazer Park
  • *Gilbert Heights School
  • *Gilbert Park
  • *Glenhaven Park
  • *Grant Park
  • *Harold Oliver Primary School
  • *Hollybrook Park
  • *Laurelhurst Park
  • *Lents Park
  • *Lincoln Park
  • *Lincoln Park School
  • *Meinig Memorial Park
  • *Menlo Park School
  • *Mill Park School
  • *Montavilla Park
  • *Normandale Park
  • *North Park Blocks
  • *North Powellhurst School
  • *Oregon Park
  • *Parklane Park
  • *Peninsula Park
  • *Piccolo Park
  • *Reed's Crossing
  • *Rose City Park
  • *Sabin HydroPark
  • *Sellwood Park
  • *Spring Garden Park
  • *St Johns Park
  • *Tamarack Park
  • *The Imagination Station
  • *Ventura Park & School
  • *Wade Creek Park
  • *Washington Park
  • *Wellington Park
  • *Wilshire Park
  • *Woodland Elementary School

Playgrounds By Region (Within 1 Hour of Portland)

  • Place: Estacada (1)
  • Place: Fairview (4)
  • Place: Gresham (2)
  • Place: Happy Valley (1)
  • Place: Hillsboro (1)
  • Place: N Portland (4)
  • Place: NE Portland (14)
  • Place: NW Portland (2)
  • Place: Oregon City (1)
  • Place: SE Portland (20)
  • Place: SW Portland (3)
  • Place: Sandy (1)
  • Place: Troutdale (3)
  • Place: Wood Village (1)

Beyond Portland: Playgrounds Elsewhere

  • Beyond Portland: Artists At Play - Seattle WA
  • Beyond Portland: Centennial Park - Jasper AB
  • Beyond Portland: Daniel Jonas Meijersplein - Amsterdam NL
  • Beyond Portland: Ella Bailey Park - Seattle WA
  • Beyond Portland: Hemenway Park - Boston MA
  • Beyond Portland: Horns Hill Park - Newark OH
  • Beyond Portland: Main Street Park - Monmouth OR
  • Beyond Portland: Manuel Valverde Park - Lathrop CA
  • Beyond Portland: Mollie Walsh Park - Skagway AK
  • Beyond Portland: Ocean View Park - Half Moon Bay CA
  • Beyond Portland: Rasmus Klump Playground - Copenhagen DK
  • Beyond Portland: Redwood Creek Challenge Trail - Anaheim CA
  • Beyond Portland: Royal Victoria Park - Bath England
  • Beyond Portland: Shane Park - Port Angeles WA
  • Beyond Portland: Super Silly Fun Land - Hollywood CA

Playgrounds By Year Photographed

  • Year: 2006
  • Year: 2007
  • Year: 2008
  • Year: 2009
  • Year: 2010
  • Year: 2011
  • Year: 2012
  • Year: 2013
  • Year: 2014
  • Year: 2015
  • Year: 2016
  • Year: 2017
  • Year: 2017 - Parks Revisited
  • Year: 2019
  • Year: 2019 - Parks Revisited
  • Year: 2020
  • Year: 2020 - Parks Revisited
  • Year: 2021
  • Year: 2021 - Parks Revisited
  • Year: 2022
  • Year: 2023
  • Year: 2023 - Parks Revisited
  • Year: 2024
  • Year: 2025
  • Year: 2025 - Parks Revisited

Longest Spans Between 1st & Most Recent Visit

  • 19 Years: Parklane Park
  • 18.5 Years: Blue Lake Park
  • 16 Years: Peninsula Park
  • 15 Years: Glenhaven Park
  • 13 Years: The Imagination Station
  • 12.5 Years: Ventura Park & School

School Playgrounds

  • *Bridger K-8 School
  • *Franciscan Montessori Earth School
  • *Gilbert Heights School
  • *Harold Oliver Primary School
  • *Lincoln Park School
  • *Menlo Park School
  • *Mill Park School
  • *North Powellhurst School
  • *Ventura Park & School
  • *Woodland Elementary School

Blog Archive

  • ▼  2025 (8)
    • ▼  August (3)
      • Blue Lake Park Revisited - Fairview - 8.7.25
      • Blue Lake Park Revisited - Fairview - 2015
      • Parklane Park Revisited - SE Portland - Spring 2025
    • ►  March (4)
    • ►  February (1)
  • ►  2024 (2)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ►  February (1)
  • ►  2023 (5)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  May (1)
    • ►  April (2)
  • ►  2022 (7)
    • ►  November (2)
    • ►  October (3)
    • ►  May (1)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2021 (2)
    • ►  September (2)
  • ►  2020 (3)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  February (1)
  • ►  2019 (3)
    • ►  September (2)
    • ►  July (1)
  • ►  2017 (4)
    • ►  December (2)
    • ►  August (2)
  • ►  2016 (40)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ►  June (39)

Wanna Search?
Simple theme. Theme images by Goldmund. Powered by Blogger.