Community Grand Opening Celebration Of New Raymond Park Inclusive Playground

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(Portland, OR) -

The Portland Parks Foundation (PPF), in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is excited to announce the grand opening of the new Raymond Park Playground in East Portland. PPF and PP&R invite the community to join a public celebration of the new inclusive play space on Friday, May 8, 2026. The project's completion is a milestone, the successful conclusion of the first of three playgrounds that are part of the Foundation's Everybody Plays playground campaign. The Everybody Plays initiative is a dedicated community effort to replace three aging and inaccessible playgrounds across Portland with new, inclusive play spaces.

The Portland Parks Foundation invites everyone of all ages to join project partners and neighborhood leaders for an afternoon of celebration!

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, May 8, 2026
• Time: 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM
• Location: Raymond Park (118th Ave & SE Raymond St, Portland)

• Program: Community celebration, brief remarks, and an afternoon of play.

  For more information about the campaign, the status of the other two playgrounds, or to learn how to support future initiatives, please visit portlandpf.org/playgrounds.

About the new Raymond Park inclusive playground

Portland Parks Foundation thanks park supporters across the city for their generous contributions. With their help and the Foundation's stewardship, more than 1,600 local households in East Portland now have access to a state-of-the-art play area designed for people of all abilities. Raymond Park's new playground features key inclusive elements including smooth rubber surfacing, engaging sensory stations, and a dedicated communication board ensuring that every child has a safe and welcoming environment to learn, grow, and play. During construction, PP&R also improved the park's drainage to keep the popular splash pad open.

Background

The Portland Parks Foundation, the Rose City Park Playground Project, PP&R, and community champions built an incredible new playground in 2023 at Rose City Park. What was once a space with broken, outdated, and inaccessible equipment, was transformed into a safe, welcoming space where more than 2,000 neighborhood children now have a fantastic place to learn, stay healthy, and connect.

Building on that momentum, PPF, in partnership with PP&R, launched the Everybody Plays Playground Campaign in 2024 to replace three failing and inaccessible playgrounds in George Park (North Portland), Raymond Park (East Portland), and Portland's Heights Park (Strohecker's) in SW Portland with new, modern, and inclusive structures. Thanks to the incredible generosity of 38 donors and PP&R's matching contribution to the project, PPF has raised the funds needed to build these playgrounds. Raymond Park's play area was the first of the three.

About Portland Parks Foundation

Portland Parks Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, helps people help parks. The Portland Parks Foundation is dedicated to connecting Portlanders to nature and to each other through the city's parks, public spaces, and natural areas. We lead, develop partnerships, and raise money to fund new facilities, enhance existing ones, and support programs to put our parks system within reach of all. We are the chief philanthropic partner of Portland Parks & Recreation. To learn more about our mission and programs, visit portlandpf.org.

About Portland Parks & Recreation

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is proud to offer recreation for everyone, including via ourAdaptive Recreation Program.We offer inclusive activities for teens and adults who have a disability. The program includes social gatherings, creative arts classes, and outings (for adults). For more info please visitportland.gov/parks/recreation/adaptive

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) serves as the steward of Portland's natural beauty and community vitality, managing a diverse portfolio of over 11,000 acres of land that includes neighborhood parks, community centers, and expansive urban forests. Committed to the health and well-being of all residents, the bureau provides equitable access to high-quality recreational programs, environmental education, and safe outdoor spaces. Through a focus on ecological sustainability and social equity, PP&R ensures that Portland's world-class park system remains a vibrant, inclusive resource where nature and community connect for generations to come. To learn more, visit portland.gov/parks.

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