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Peninsula Park
Category: Active Life Parks Parks [Edit]
700 N Rosa Parks WayPortland, OR 97217
Neighborhoods: North Portland, Piedmont
(503) 823-3620
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
29 reviews for Peninsula Park
29 reviews in English
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Review from Jasmyn M.
8/24/2011
I can't believe we're lucky enough to live by this park! I love it for these reasons:
- the peaceful rose garden that smells divine when in bloom
- a children's play area complete with water features for hot summer days (and I don't even have kids)
- tennis courts!
- lots of lush grass, perfect for our bocce and lawn bowling equipment
- a public outdoor pool
- plenty of picnic and BBQ areas
- ample shady and sunny spots
and lastly...
- the diversity. I love that there are people of every age, race, etc. just enjoying the park together. -
Review from Heather M.
Portland, OR
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love, love, love this park. Though, I may be biased, it is my front yard. I am so lucky and thankful to have such a wonderful park, community center & pool right across the street! I go there everyday!
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Review from fon z.
7/17/2011
This is one of my favorite public gardens in Portland. It is a English style rose garden. Everything is pretty well manicured. A fountain in the middle, and a gazebo in the back. It's a great place to take a stroll with your date, and show some appreciation for these colorful and fragrant roses.
Summer of 2010 had a swing dance at the gazebo every other Saturday night. I cannot say for sure if these are still going on this year, but this was always a fun time. If you come to this event, don't forget to bring you bug spray. Mosquitoes are attracted to moisture/sweat. -
Review from Clare H.
7/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh.My.Gosh. I am so glad I decided to "get lost" today in Portland. Not only did I discover a whole new part of the city but I just so happened to stumble upon this place. As soon as I saw the rose garden from the street my jaw dropped and I literally HAD to pull over to get a better look. All of the roses are in full bloom right now and it literally looked like something straight out of Alice In Wonderland. I was pretty upset that my phone was dying and the camera function couldn't be used, so I HAVE to go back..like later today or tomorrow. MUST. GO. Back. Maybe I sound a little over enthusiastic here but I have yet to go to any of the city's rose gardens, and now I see why they are a MUST. We wandered the 2 acres of roses for about 30 minutes, reading all the placards and picking out what our favorite roses were. My daughter liked them all and almost decided to go for a swim in the fountain, luckily I was close by and kept her from doing so!
After that we noticed the playground behind the rose garden and walked over there...the weirdest thing happened. It was like straight out of the twilight zone. The Portland Trailblazers mascot, Blaze (yes I had to google his name, I'm such a noob) was there lifting kids up onto the monkey bars. No Joke. My daughter cried "Wolf!" and wanted to run away, so we didn't play with Blaze...but how random is that? After playing on the awesome playground, we discovered a pool behind that! AND there is a splashpad! What else could you want at a park for kids? Admittedly the place is a little older and isn't the state of the art playground equipment, but it has character and the trees are grown up so high so it offers wonderful shade. There is something for everyone here. They also had some basketball or tennis courts or something, I forget. WILL be back very soon for pictures...Can't wait to do some portraits here too! -
Review from Jen K.
The City of Roses. Everyone knows about the International Rose Test Garden. One of Portland's top visitor attractions with thousands of rose bushes and its classic view of the Portland skyline. But Peninsula Park with over 9,000 rose plantings is no slouch. It is also the city's first rose garden and in some ways I prefer this quiet little park in the heart of North Portland to its more famous counterpart.
We were there in early July and it felt like the end of the season, so I can only imagine how beautiful it would be in full, robust bloom.
The Rose Garden is sunken so when you approach from above there is a lovely view of the fountain surrounded by manicured rows of roses and hedges. The joy of discovery in Portland is not just the grand places, but those smaller neighborhood spots that are less known and less traveled. Add this one to your picnic list.Listed in: Parks-n-Rec
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Review from Anna B.
Words can hardly describe how much I love this park. Portland's original community center is housed here, too, with a totally sweet pool you can jump in for four bucks or buy a discounted multi-pass.
For hours and hours, I've wandered this park, and it's got it all: breathtakingly gorgeous rose gardens complete with an awesome aroma cloud, covered areas, play areas, walking paths, a gazebo, large flat grassy area, super tall trees, fountains, plenty of room to stretch out, baseball diamond, and did I mention the pool? Yes, I mentioned the pool but it's worth mentioning again because there aren't too many in P-town.
Definitely top five fave spots in this city. Fun fact: in the fifties, a bunch of penguins got to hang out in the pool for a while as the zoo wasn't quite ready for them to move in yet. Now that, I'd love to see.Listed in: Just Call Me Leslie Knope.
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Review from Andrew C.
6/25/2008 30 Check-ins Here
I can't decide just yet but I think this park might be nicer than the Rose Garden.
And there's shops/food near it too...
Hmm...
..yeah, it's better.
Settled!Listed in: North Portland
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Review from Danielle K.
Portland, OR
6/26/2008
It's pretty funny, because the first thing I thought when I saw Peninsula Park from a distance one fine early summer day, was "Grandma's Tablecloth." It's not the first time that phrase has come to mind recently. I remember clearly saying those two words to describe these boots [http://www.solestruck....].
I think it was the massive array of roses. Yes, that must have been it. All of the roses in different colors in a relatively small area (considering how many there were), with a big fountain in the middle. Yup, it totally reminded me of a tablecloth. It made me want to laugh. Not because it was lame, but because this was something so random and unexpected to be in the middle of North Portland. A huge rose garden?!
And the rest of the park is pretty cool, too. There's a nice trail that goes around the park for a brisk walk (lots of strollers on nice days), a lot of grassy areas and a playground, and a few really cool-looking gazebos that you can apparently rent out for parties or picnics.
And to be honest, I liked Peninsula Park more than the Rose Test Garden (if we're comparing)...it wasn't as...how can I put it?...stuck up? Not quite so prim and proper, and the people there were much more laid-back, to boot. There weren't incredibly chiseled dudes showing off their tennis moves and there was parking. And if you cross the street, you're back in town, and can even grab some coffee.
So, I really have no justification for comparing this place to a grandmother's table linen, but you'll just have to go and see for yourself. -
Review from Diana M.
8/31/2010
This was the original rose garden in Portland before the International Rose Test Garden. This place is almost never crowded and not quite as big as the International Rose Test Garden but still gorgeous. The grounds are kept in very good condition with a good variety of roses. In the center is a huge water fountain which is nice to sit by on a refreshing day.
Definitely would suggest taking a book out here on a sunny day and reading among the roses. -
Review from Kelly M.
Portland, OR
6/11/2007
I almost prefer Peninsula Park to the International Rose Garden on the other side of the river. The only thing lacking is the view of Mount Hood, but Peninsula Park comes out on top for being a quieter, more peaceful alternative.
Bring a picnic and watch the neighborhood kids frolic in the fountain in the middle. It's a great place to laze and enjoy the roses. -
Review from Julie M.
Multnomah, OR
3/31/2009
Love this park.
This is Portland's origonal Rose Garden.
Come here and feel like a Queen.
It's a great place to bring a Date.
Don't ask how I know.
The pergola is a super place to hold a Concert.
The Rose Festival people do it to Honor the Rose Court.
Lived across the street for a year, and was impressed at all the positive activity here. Bring Kids for the Pool in season, and maybe photograph roses or play tennis while they swim? Dogs love the fountain too, and the Ball field for chasing balls.
Walk thru the Rose Garden in bare feet sometime. Good Coffee Across the street, and planty of good food and libations nearby on Killingsworth or Lombard Streets. (and beyond)
Held a wine tasting here once. Just set up a small table next to the big fountain, and laid out all the Hors D'ouerves I'd prepared, and Wines. It really helped friends unwind from their usual lives in the city, and theHosted Wine Tasting got them to committ to show up for a Democratic Party auction before people knew that sort of thing was Kool.
You can enjoy this garden any time of year. It is superb place for getting away alone to clear your head. (Maybe you'll want to become a Parks Dept volunteer to help maintain this park?)
Bus lines: 4, and 40, with 72 at Killingsworth, and the Crosstown 75 on Lombard. All carry bikes. A very bikable and walkable area too.Listed in: Woodlawn Area places to Be
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Review from Sherri M.
Portland, OR
9/14/2010 1 photo
Oh how I love Peninsula Park!
Just a few blocks from our home, Peninsula Park is a regular destination for nice walks, beautiful roses, and great people watching. The big field is great for tossing a Frisbee around if there isn't a soccer game on. The community center, Portland's first, is a lovely building featuring all kinds of reasonably priced classes. The outdoor pool is personally a little frightening when it teems with screaming children in the summer months, but every one of them looks to be having a fabulous time. The City even replaced the old wading pool with a fun new water play area a few years ago.
And then there's the rose garden, the first formal rose garden in this City of Roses. It is a lesser known attraction than the beautiful International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park, but with the gorgeous fountain in the center of row upon row of lovely roses, this smaller garden is a real gem. At the height of blooming the fragrant blossoms create a heady cloud of scent in the park. -
Review from Natalie B.
Portland, OR
6/24/2008
Ooh! I love the purple ones!
No! Look at those buttery yellow ones!
OMG, the orange ones!
This is me at the Peninsula Park Rose Garden. Seriously, how beautiful does one place really need to be?! I've driven by here a million times and I always say that I should go there, but never do. I finally went here this weekend during Sunday Parkways, and it was so cool. I cannot believe it. The roses are in a sunken area of the park, surrounding a clear cool fountain in the middle. This would be a great place for a picnic, a wedding, a walk with your betrothed, whatev. It is gorgeous, especially when the sun is shining and all is right with the world. -
Review from Jana S.
6/26/2010
My neighborhood rose garden!!! With the sunken square and the European fountain....eloquence, and a scene that will whisk you away from your worries and sadness, and transport you to a quiet European garden, and outing that is sure to tickle your fancy.
Used to bike here often. The other side of the park has a community center for ping-pong, and there are tennis courts as well as a pool, and an area for kids to play on slides and such. What a wonderful community feel.
There are so many different species of roses...it's magical to walk down their lawned lanes (and their paved one) and read the various id labels, or just close your eyes and take in the complex sweetness of so many blooms releasing their aromaticity into your nasal passage.
Breathing in pure rose sweetness....it was enjoyable to pack a picnic, or else relax and read a book by the nice rhythm of the fountain. What spoils this indeed are the kids who dunk their whole selves into the fountain and roughouse it up... i've seen dirty diapers floating about before. Not a lovely feature. -
Review from Andrew M.
Palo Alto, CA
8/19/2007
Well, compared to the test garden this one was a "wa wa waaaaaa".
It didn't seem to be very well kept, many of the roses were out of season, picked over or dead? While there it rained on us almost the whole time, making it the only time in portland I got rained on. Good timing huh?
Up sides? It's sunken, which is pretty cool. Thier fountain is large and nice, compared to that "little kids peeing" thing they've got over at the test garden. I'm also sure it would be really nice in the spring when all the roses are in full bloom. The test garden guys really must have their roses on some "special food" to have them so amped up at the end of summer.
As kind of a side note, the neighborhood surrounding the park was kind of, well, not so great. Some of the yards could have used a good watering. You can't always rely on the rain, especially in the summer. -
Review from Kristi W.
Portland, OR
4/30/2011
Love this park with it's great options for family fun...tennis; expansive playground; summer splash park for the kids; big open fields for soccer, tennis, kite flying; basketball courts; picnic areas for parties or lunch; the grand gazebo for practicing our Sound of Music moves; and the spectacular rose garden & fountain for exploring, photo opportunities, and hide-n-seek!
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Review from sue t.
Portland, OR
5/29/2009
I LOVE this park!
Not only did we have fun running around kicking a giant pink ball and playing wiffleball. Not only did Ellie the dog get to play with other pups. Not only was there an giant flower that sprayed water at you. Not only were the roses just starting to bloom.
But most importantly I left my camera and sunglasses on the grass and went back for them an hour later and they were sitting there unscathed. -
Review from Tommy T.
3/29/2011
What a beautiful park! Even when the roses are not in season this park stands out as a nice place to go to. The layout makes me think of an English estate (the rec center being a manor house). The playground is huge, the fountain is enormous, the pool has a retro charm to it, and walking through it anytime of year makes me swoon with thoughts of times gone by.
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Review from Megan T.
3/31/2009 1 Check-in Here
This park is absolutely beautiful during the summer. Lush and green, with flowers everywhere, it's the perfect place for a summer picnic. I've never seen it super-crowded; it's easy to find a comfortable space of your own even on the hottest days.
You can walk throughout the park for hours and not get bored. It's beautiful for acres on end, and it's perfect for dogs since there's plenty of room and also great for children since there's a fountain (however, be careful with the fountain- I saw a not-so-covert man trying to change out of his swimsuit once here 'neath a towel, and let's just say I saw WAY MORE OF HIM than I would have liked to have seen).
A lovely gem in North Portland. Easily accessible and totally worth the trek if it's not in your hood. -
Review from Sean G.
Portland, OR
3/20/2009 1 photo
I visited this park at sunrise in March. So it's probably not really reflective of what you might find in the middle of summer, but since I tend to visit a lot of places at sunrise...
First off, it's a big, open park. It has a great old feel to it. There's a great variety of things to see. There's a pool, a large sprawling playground, some trees, a giant gazebo, and of course their massive rose garden.
Of course in March, the rose garden was completely empty. However, it looked like it would be pretty cool. I'm used to the Rose Test Garden at Washington Park, since I live nearby, but I think the Peninsula garden would certainly hold it's own. It has a more pleasing layout, if you ask me, but doesn't have a sundial or any real accessories that you might enjoy. Well, other than the large, plain fountain.
The play area is awesome. They have the usual swings and spiral slide and the like, but they also have a merry-go-round (always a plus) and teeter-totters and even a variety of gymnastic bars. There are parallel bars, and bars on chains, and rings, and, well, a lot of playground equipment I don't see anymore. So the playground was really cool compared to the dumbed down plastic playgrounds you see at modern parks.
This morning there was plenty of foot traffic as the sun came up. Lots of joggers and people out walking their friendly dogs. I know there is an off-leash area, but everyone let their dogs run around wherever. I didn't see any piles of poo, tho, so at least people are cleaning up after their pets.
So, I would recommend this park. If you want a nice relaxing place to stop, this looks like it'd fit the bill. If, like me, you love photographing the many cool things you'd find at a park, then you'll like this park. Check it out! -
Review from Jarrod S.
Beautiful park...Amazing roses. I'm with Andrew C on this one, I like it more than the Rose Garden, The fountain is relaxing, the entire park is framed by large trees...There are picnic areas and baseball diamonds, and very well maintained grounds.
Listed in: ...But I like to get crunk…, Places Gus Can Poop
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Review from Sara M.
San Francisco, CA
2/25/2008
Let's make out. Here. With a picnic and some cheap champagne. Or not. Whatever. Maybe we can play in the fountain? Or stroll (yeah, that verb is appropriate here) through the roses. We could even play hide and seek. If you want, I'll take your photo - how could a place so picturesque not be the perfect backdrop to a stunning portrait? Or your new default myspace profile. Can you stand how good the roses smell? Seriously. You know, I actually don't care what we do or if it's a "we" or a "me" that gets to hang out in Peninsula Park - let's just enjoy summer and north portland and this beautiful, beautiful, beautiful rose-filled park.
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Review from Abe I.
Portland, OR
6/19/2007
Rose garden in the middle of Nopo is a perfect bike riding destinition. There is a big fountain in the middle and the surrounding neighborhoods are full of bike lanes and shady trees. Picnic spot if summer ever hits.
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Review from Some G.
Portland, OR
5/20/2011
This is a great park that is very well kept. My running route is right through here and I live in the general vicinity. A lot of families come here when the weather is nice. People often play games of pick-up soccer here. There are a few bad elements that come into the park and try to cause trouble with one another, but usually only in the early summer. For the most part it is a pretty safe place.
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Review from Eva J.
Portland, OR
11/30/2009
I live in this hood and I've had a couple of nice dates here. First dates, that have led to short lived but passionate romances. ah maybe it's the roses, maybe it's a short walk, who knows but it's a nice lil park
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Review from Clayton T.
Portland, OR
1/29/2010
My favorite Portland park and there are plenty to choose from. The rose garden is absolutely beautiful and kids love that huge fountain in the center of it. Add the community pool at the north end of the park with plenty of green space for sports in the center and it's the jewel of the neighborhood!
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Review from kristen p.
Portland, OR
8/25/2009
The kid's playground is great, really one of the closer attempts at an 80's throwback, which means that the structures are actually wood and metal! Plus there is a lot to do, water features, many structures and across the park is one of Portland's hidden gems, a gorgeous rose garden, second in Portland only to the one in Washington Park, and it has a Italian style fountain and overall design.
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Review from El A.
Portland, OR
2/5/2010
hands down--the most beautiful rose gardens on Portland and way less crowded. they have a good shade park for hot summer days and frog fountain to run through. The community center has family movie nights for $1.50 a family every Friday and indoor play gyms for rainy day fun.
big pool,indoor pool,ping pong,foosball, basketball,etc...
always a fun park to visit!! -
Review from Lily C.
Portland, OR
7/3/2010
Arguably the prettiest park in Portland, which is saying something. It has a beautiful sunken rose garden and a lovely fountain to splash in, a huge and romantic gazebo, and a million magical moments waiting to happen. Johnny Cash had a picnic here, for chrissake! It's far less crowded than the Washington Park rose garden, and unique as all get out. Oh, and the penguins at the Oregon Zoo stayed in the pool there while waiting for their habitat to be completed. Why aren't you there right now? GO.
