Laurelhurst Park

SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd & Stark St, Portland, OR 97214, USA

Address:	SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd & Stark St, Portland, OR 97214, USA
Phone:	+1 503-823-2525
Site:	portlandonline.com
Rating:	4.6
Working:	5AM–10:30PM 5AM–10:30PM 5AM–10:30PM 5AM–10:30PM 5AM–10:30PM 5AM–10:30PM 5AM–10:30PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 11

D Mecate

I worked for the Portland Park Bureau as an attendant/laborer at Laurelhurst Park and often found undesirable elements of homosexuals and bums frequenting this park. They both leave a footprint and are a nuisance as well as potential predators. Homosexuals will Sharpie messages on the bathroom walls with detailed hook-up dates/times; I painted over their vandalism of municipal property every few weeks or more - material and labor costs that could be better spent on park improvements. Homosexuals trawl the wooded paths close to Ankeny street and are most active after dusk but can also be seen creeping in the bushes during the day, rain or shine. Normally I would have little or no cause for concern over a homosexual presence except for the fact that the main reason for their visit tends to be prowling for sex. Keep your young children in the "play park" between Oak and Stark streets under close watch, Oak street has turned into a gathering strip for people living in vehicles, they tend to take over local picnic benches. Transient bums quite simply trash most everything they lay hands-on, scream for attention by scattering garbage and obscenities. They also panhandle, urinate openly and defecate in the bushes

Scott Pinkerton

One of the best parks in the city. It is about one mile in perimeter. The park is split by a road into a smaller southern side and a much larger northern side. The southern side is basically flat and mostly covered in grass. It has tennis courts, basketball courts, a soccer field, some picnic tables, a small wading pool, and a childrens play area including swings designed for disabled children. The northern side of the park is very hilly and has some fantastic trails for running or walking. There are trees galore in the northern side of the park big old firs, oaks, and maples, so there is plenty of shade on hot days. It is also mostly covered in grass. Picnic tables and benches are all over the place so even on a busy day it is easy to find somewhere to sit and watch the world go by. There is a duck pond with a trail around it in the center. There is a set of horseshoe pits and an off leash dog area on the northern side as well.

Rob Raw

Very pretty and large park in SE that has a nice pond in the middle. Watch out for unruly dogs in the Off-leash "area" (theres no fence so they just run everywhere.) The last time I was there a dog bolted to the pond & spent the rest of my time there swimming/chasing after the ducks and making a loud racket. The owners were clueless/didnt care. The sad part is that the homeless are taking over the park & setting up camping / blocking off areas for personal living or just spreading all of their crap all over the place & making it a homeless shelter. Its pretty hard to try and enjoy "nature" or the beauty of the park when someone else has a clothesline strung between trees & a pile of garbage around their "living area" theyve claimed. This city is going downhill fast. This is usually a great pokemon nest, as well.

Willow Strong

Ive been going here since I was little and I absolutely love sharing it with my son and family. It has something for everyone! Play structure, basketball court, tennis court, soccer field, wall ball court, and a dance studio on one side (the loud, active side). And the "quiet side" has winding paved pathways, a duck pond, wide open spaces to spreading out a blanket/play Frisbee/do yoga/hula hoop/draw/paint/or just be, a dog park area, picnic tables EVERYWHERE for reunions/birthdays/or just to sit. It really is a beautiful park in a beautiful neighborhood and a great place to take visitors or spend time with friends and family. I give it a 10/10

Michael Marcus

"In 1909, the land that is now Laurelhurst Park was purchased from the estate of William S. Ladd, who developed Ladds Addition and twice was mayor of Portland. Ladd named his 486-acre parcel Hazel Fern Farm, after the name of one of the streets in the area. Here Ladd developed one of the most prestigious stock farms in the West. A spring-fed pond on the property had always been a favorite watering hole for cattle, as well as a favorite swimming hole for both children and adults. In 1911, seeing the potential for a park as part of the Olmsted Plan, the City of Portland bought 30 of the acres, including the pond."

Tami Keller-Sheets

Laurelhurst is a great urban park. I stop by here to take my dog for a walk when we are out and about in the Hawthorne area. There are a lot of people and one always sees homeless people. But, at the same time it is sort of fun. This is a busy place in the heart of a busy city. The houses that line the streets around Laurelhurst are ALL amazing too. They are all older unique craftsman. Their lawns are beautifully manicured and the diverse styles are a treat. I sometimes just walk the outside in Spring so I can enjoy the flowers/trees. There is also an off leash dog area near the South/Center.

Maria Mains

This park is huge. Your dog will defiantly be tempted to jump into the small duck lake. Surprisingly, despite it being an off leash park, to my observations, there isnt that much dog poo to accidentally step into. Really helps that they have a few doggy bag posts and a decent amount of trash cans. Its a beautiful walk but youve got some regular types you see here. Stoner bench and homeless lounging by the horse shoe lanes. Local events are held here, occasionally a field trip group, maybe even some television filming.

anna huttel

Design my Olmstead, with rolling mounds, this is easily one of my favorite parks in Portland. Full disclosure: Laurelhurst also happens to be my neighborhood park. There are numerous, somewhat meandering paths, which complete a large loop if taken in the right combination. Between jolly, romping dogs, people-watching, the pond, movies on select summer Saturdays, yoga on summer Saturday mornings, the occasional Shakespeare performance, and more...the park has a bit of everything. Each visit seems to reveal something new.

Kyan Hartley

This may be my favorite park in Portland (tied with Mt. Tabor, perhaps). This idyllic setting is nestled in between SE Stark and Burnside, clad all around with beautiful homes (who lives here? Do you need a live-in best friend that leaves the house every day to frolic in the park across the street?). Complete with just the right amount of intertwined running/walking trails, beautiful foliage and a lovely pond. Its a stellar place to spend a beautiful afternoon with a picnic, a puppy and a makeout partner.

A Private User

What I like most about this park is how Google maps lets me rant rant about a traumatic experience I once had awhile ago that has little to do with anything instead of comment on the quality of the park. I understand parental protectiveness turns fear for your child into anger, but dont let it out by ranting on the internet like a 12-year-old. Also, "dogs" doesnt need an apostrophe, unless youre saying something is owned by a dog, as in "The dogs bowl." Sitting in on a 4th grade English class might help.

Saundra Andrade

Laurelhurst Park is separated into two sections with a street between. One side has a childrens play park, basketball courts, tennis courts, a wading pool that sometimes holds water, and a community center that is swirling with great activities. The other side of the street is peaceful and quiet and filled with nature. Trails for walking, a dog run area, a very large pond with ducks. Benches for people watching or reading. A gathering place for large functions. Laurelhurst Park has something for everyone!