This week the Safe Routes team kicked off our summer SUN Cycle program at Earl Boyles Elementary, teaching bike safety to a bunch of young riders. It's our second summer of offering free summer bike programming via our SUN school partners, and as per usual, it's been a blast. It's also been hot - really hot.

So, without further ado, here's the Safe Routes secret recipe for staying active and having fun in the heat:

• Get your bike out of the garage or put on some comfy walking shoes
• Ride or walk to the nearest park with a water feature
• Come home cool, content, and dry (mostly)

Our participants have loved visiting the water spray features at Earl Boyles Park and Raymond Park in East Portland. They totally drench themselves every time. We think you'll love visiting parks with spray features to cool down with as well. Check out the list below or click here to see them on map:

Free spray features in neighborhood parks

• Caruthers Park, 3508 SW Moody Avenue
• Columbia Park, N. Lombard Street and Woolsey Avenue
• Earl Boyles Park, SE 112th Avenue & Boise Street
• Essex Park, SE 79th Avenue & Center Street
• Grant Park, NE 33rd Avenue & US Grant Place
• Kenton Park, 8417 N. Brandon Avenue
• McCoy Park, N Trenton Street & Newman Avenue
• Northgate Park, N Geneva Avenue & Fessenden Street
• Peninsula Park, N. 700 Rosa Parks Way
• Pier Park, N Lombard Street & Bruce Avenue
• Raymond Park, SE 118th Avenue & Raymond Street
• Stark Street Island, SE 106th Avenue and Stark Street
• Woodlawn Park, NE 13th Avenue & Dekum Street

For more information on water features and pools, check out this Portland Parks & Rec post.

And if you need a safe way to get there, check out our walking/biking maps page.

Keep cool, have fun, and stay active!