The love for Sunday Parkways was shown this last weekend with approximately 31,150 people celebrating the 25th Sunday Parkways event. Similarly to the Peninsula Rose Garden’s roses, the day was in full bloom as friends and families swept into the five parks: Columbia Park Annex, Peninsula Park, Kenton Park, McCoy Park and Arbor Lodge Park. The 9.5 mile route loop passed each of the parks, which held their own distinctive attractions. 

The day began with games by the Oregon Disability Sports, group rides, and tours of the Peninsula Park Gardens.  The rides coordinated by Safe Routes to School, New Columbia’s We All Can Ride, Hacienda ABC bike group, Community Cycling Center, and Kaiser Permanente lead two groups of 15 youth and families.

Beats to set the upbeat mood for the day floated through the air as DJ Rock Doc hit the turn tables by 11 am in McCoy Park and Mudtown Stompers drew folks to their feet in Columbia Park Annex soon after. Portland Parks and Recreation’s creative Sunday Parkways Passports encouraged people keep track of their travels.

In Arbor Lodge Park the sound of music came from many voices as Mr. Ben, Ethos and Edna Vazquez performed throughout the day. And if it wasn’t the sound of music you heard, it was likely giggles. Close by children played, ran and rolled along the Harper’s Playground or stopped by one of the various animal focused nonprofit booths to play with dogs and ferrets.

Fun came in many forms for the curious, as trucks big and bigger awaited children and adults at the Columbia Park Annex. People explored the inner workings of the underground sewers through the City’s sewer survey vehicles or got a taste of a firefighter’s life while getting close to an actual fire truck at Arbor Lodge Park.

Overall, the day was filled with fun for everyone, and we could not have done it without you. Thank you sponsors, donors, vendors, volunteers, entertainers, police, flaggers and participants for making this a 25th anniversary event to remember. We look forward to welcoming you to our next event on July 27th in Northeast Portland. For updates, check us out on Twitter and Facebook.