What’s to Love: Wilshire Park is a quaint (NE) neighborhood park. It has a trail that rings the outside where people like to jog and walk their dogs. It’s also one of the friendlier dog-parks in Portland. We used to live in the Beaumont Village area of Portland and this was our local park. It’s probably not worth a trip from outer-southeast Portland, but if you’re in the northeast, bring the family by for some fun.

Wilshire has an interesting collection of playstructures designed specifically for toddlers and a nice sandpit. The playground is right in the middle of some renovations, which will improve it significantly. There is an off-leash area for dogs, and this is quite popular with dog owners. Wilshire also has a well-manicured baseball field with an active roster of little-league games.

Caveats: Currently, the Wilshire playground is just adequate. It has improved, but still needs some work. The outer, jogging-trail doesn’t drain very well in spots, and it can get very muddy. Otherwise, I would rate this very high as a Portland Park.

 

Website:  Off Leash Map  Off Leash Hours   Wilshire Park

Distance from Portland: Wilshire is approximately 3 miles from downtown Portland.

Recommended Ages: Great park for toddlers and early walkers. The rest is fine for kids 8 and younger.

Parental Stress Factor: Since the off-leash area is now separate from the playground, it’s far less stress. Before, dogs would often come crashing through the playground.

Physical Difficulty: Not physically difficult – not an accessible park.

Family Fun Factor: Low to Medium. This is more of a quick-stop/quick picnic area. Don’t get me wrong though, certainly the whole family can have fun here.

Pet Friendly: Yes…it’s a good park for dog owners.

Weather Considerations: There is a lot of shade here, and it does seem pretty dark and dreary in the winter. The grounds can get pretty muddy, but the playground drains fairly well.

Insider Info: I don’t know what it is about this park, but it seems like parents really like to talk on their cell phones and text message here. Every time I’ve been here, it’s always the same. I find this incredibly annoying. My recommendation is to play and interact with your children and leave the cell phone at home.

Family Tips: Need some food for a picnic? Put your order in online with New Seasons, and pick-up your picnic within 1/8 of a mile of the park. If you’d like a restaurant, the Kennedy School is nearby. The track around the outside is not paved; thus, it’s not a good option for umbrella strollers. If you need to bring a child carrier, stick to backpacks, slings, or jogging strollers that work fine on wood chips.

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