Albert Kelly Park

Albert Kelly Park is located at the end of SW Mitchell Dr off Dosch Rd.

Playground and picnic table at Albert Kelly Park. Photo by Victor von Salza
Albert Kelly Park is located at the end of SW Mitchell Dr off Dosch Rd.

Playground and picnic table at Albert Kelly Park. Photo by Victor von Salza

The park has a level play area, a play ground, a picnic table, a baseball/soccer field, and a volleyball court (in Summer only).

In February 2007 Gay Greger, Portland Parks & Recreation, reported that: "...The Bureau of Purchasing has confirmed that we have an acceptable bid so now we can finally move forward with Albert Kelly Whirl Safety Surface Improvement. The contractor should be onboard by mid-March and the construction schedule
will be developed shortly thereafter."

Albert Kelly Park is on Portland Parks & Recreation's list of Parks for development of Park Functional Plan in 2007. A park functional plan consists of a vision for the park that talks about what types of activities and uses it should support and where. It specifies appropriate management and on-going community involvement and considers how a park relates to and is connected to other parks, to pedestrian and bicycle routes, and to natural resources. Portland Parks & Recreation will initiate and run the Functional Planning process, which includes contacting neighbors and the neighborhood, and a Friends of Albert Kelly Park group (see below) could help by starting work on ideas and concerns and helping involve and inform neighbors.

If you are interested in forming/joining Friends of Albert Kelly Park or Albert Kelly Park Foot Patrol please contact Chris Kahle at 503-292-2662. As of 2/7/06, one Bridlemile resident had expressed an interest in participating in (but not organizing) a Foot Patrol for Albert Kelly Park. To find out more about what a Foot Patrol does, check out what the folks in the Hamilton Park Foot Patrol are up to.

Read more about Albert Kelly Park in the interesting and informative A History of Albert Kelly Park by the Foulecourt Press.

Bridlemile Creek Stewards manages the Albert Kelly Park Creek Restoration project, a watershed project focused on the creek area in the park.

Hamilton Park

Hamilton Park is located between SW Hamilton, 45th, SW Bancroft, and 41st, adjacent to Bridlemile School grounds.

Soccer at Hamilton Park. Photo by Victor von Salza
Hamilton Park is located between SW Hamilton, 45th, SW Bancroft, and 41st, adjacent to Bridlemile School grounds.

Soccer at Hamilton Park. Photo by Victor von Salza

Amenities at Hamilton Park include a soccer field, newly renovated playground equipment, picnic tables, water fountain, and tennis courts. More information about the park is available at Portland Parks & Recreation. Hamilton Park also has an active foot patrol program, which is detailed here. The Bridlemile Creek Stewards manage the Hamilton Park Creek Restoration project, a watershed project focused on the creek area in the park.

Open Space Park

The Open Space Park is an undeveloped open space located on the flag lot between 4119 and 4201 SW 58th Ave just north of SW Hamilton.

The Open Space Park is an undeveloped open space located on the flag lot between 4119 and 4201 SW 58th Ave just north of SW Hamilton.

Together with the undeveloped portions of neighboring properties the Open Space Park (the flag lot with red dot in the center) forms a large open space in the middle of many homes. Areal Photo of the area from Portland Maps

Most of the Open Space Park is separated from 58th by a deep ravine and there are no official trails from SW58th (or other streets) to the Open Space Park, please DO NOT tresspass on neighboring driveways or properties. The best time to safely see the Open Space Park is during the annual May Friends of the Open Space Park No Ivy Day Event.

One of many such views in the Open Space Park, see the Open Space History page for more photos. Photo by Victor von Salza

Click here to read the History of the Open Space Park that describes how Jane Ullman and her neighbors together with stream and open space preservation activists, Portland Parks, and the land owner turned the Jacobs' flag lot into the Open Space Park.

To join the Friends of the Open Space Park email list click here.

Thomas Park

Undeveloped Thomas Park near SW Thomas and 53rd consists of a large grassy open area surrounded by homes on three sides and SW Thomas. Vista Soccer wanted to develop a level play area here, but lack of parking and park functional plan for the park have that project on hold.
Undeveloped Thomas Park near SW Thomas and 53rd consists of a large grassy open area surrounded by homes on three sides and SW Thomas. Vista Soccer wanted to develop a level play area here, but lack of parking and park functional plan for the park have that project on hold.

Thomas Park Fall 2000. Photo by Victor von Salza

A park functional plan consists of a vision for the park that talks about what types of activities and uses it should support and where. It specifies appropriate management and on-going community involvement and considers how a park relates to and is connected to other parks, to pedestrian and bicycle routes, and to natural resources.

If you are interested in forming/joining a Friends of Thomas Park that could begin work on a functional plan by collecting ideas, concerns, and aspirations for the Park please contact Chris Kahle at 503-292-2662.