Gabriel Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gabriel Park |
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Picnic area and playground, 2007
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| Type | Public, city |
| Location | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Area | 90.6 acres (367,000 m2) |
| Created | October 1950 |
| Operated by | Portland Parks & Recreation |
| Status | Day use only (5 am - midnight) |
Gabriel Park is a large public park in Portland, Oregon, United States. It covers about 90.65-acre (366,800 m2), which is a lot of space for fun activities! You can find many cool things there, like fields for baseball, softball, and soccer. There are also courts for basketball and tennis, plus a skatepark and volleyball courts.
The park is designed to be welcoming for everyone. It has special play areas and restrooms that are easy for people with disabilities to use. If you have a dog, there's a special off-leash area where they can run freely. You can also enjoy paved and unpaved paths for walking, reservable picnic spots, and even Wi-Fi. Gabriel Park is located in Southwest Portland, between the Maplewood, Multnomah, and Hillsdale neighborhoods.
The Southwest Community Center is right next to Gabriel Park. It has an indoor swimming pool, an indoor basketball court, a fitness room, a gymnasium, and even a rock climbing wall! There are also rooms for meetings and parties, and wireless internet access.
Contents
Park History: How Gabriel Park Started
In October 1950, the Parks Bureau bought about 87-acre (350,000 m2) of land for $120,000. This land had two small creeks and lots of trees. It was originally owned by a Swiss immigrant named Ulrich Gabriel, who farmed the land and ran a dairy called Pine Creek Dairy. That's how the park got its name!
In July 1995, Portland Parks & Recreation started a trial for a 1.75-acre (7,100 m2) dog off-leash area in Gabriel Park. It was very popular! The Southwest Community Center, which is part of the park, opened in June 1999. It was built with money from a special measure called 26-10.
Fun Features at Gabriel Park
The city spends about $231,000 each year to keep Gabriel Park looking great and working well.
Dog Off-Leash Areas
Gabriel Park has two fenced areas where dogs can run without a leash. Each area is about 1.75-acre (7,100 m2). One area is open in the winter, and the other is open in the summer. These spots are very popular because they have water fountains for dogs, bags for cleaning up after pets, picnic tables, and benches for people to relax.
Skatepark Fun
In November 2006, a city leader named Dan Saltzman suggested that money should be used to build a skatepark at Gabriel Park. The City Council agreed and approved the funding for this skatepark, along with another one in Southeast Portland.
The Gabriel Park Skatepark officially opened on July 12, 2008. It was designed and built by a company called Airspeed Skateparks from Reedsport, Oregon. It's a great place for skateboarders to practice their tricks!
Images for kids
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Features at west edge of park, looking south, from left to right: volleyball courts, tennis courts, dog off-leash area, 45th Street
