Gateway Discovery Park Playground Closed for Repairs until June 12th

Gateway Discovery Park’s playground will remain closed for a month-long repair of the rubber play surface installed around park equipment and in other areas where children are more likely to fall. The May 12th to June 12th closure allows crews time to replace the DuraSAFE SofTILE product at the vendor’s expense.

A damaged playground surface showing cracks and uneven patches on the left side, and a colorful play area with worn-out sections and a few small round structures on the right side. — *_{Playground surface condition before replacement. Courtesy of Portland Parks & Recreation, Portland, Oregon.}*

This newer East Portland recreation area officially opened in August 2018 and features universally accessible play equipment and a modern rubberized surface that boasts a ten-year warranty. The product showed signs of failure within seven years and required replacement to restore its active use. Park staff understand this closure is a disruption for the community, which relies on its outdoor playspace, but they ask for patience as this work will deliver a restored park experience with little financial impact on Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) already constrained budget.

Workers installing new playground surfacing at Gateway Discovery Park, with a pile of DuraSAFE Softile materials and playground equipment in the background. — *_{Playground surface tiles removed. Courtesy of Portland Parks & Recreation, Portland, Oregon.}*

PP&R built Gateway Discovery Park on land first acquired by the City of Portland in 2008 when the Parks department and Prosper Portland, which was known as the Portland Development Commission at the time of acquisition, jointly secured three adjacent properties. Based on community input, the 4.2-acre parcel was split into a 3.03-acre park with the remaining space supporting The Nick Fish mixed-use, regulated affordable housing, and ground-floor storefront development. Harper’s Playgrounds assisted in the inclusive playground’s design process and contributed funding to the project.

Fence surrounding a closed playground at Gateway Discovery Park with signs indicating maintenance and upcoming improvements. — *_{Playground closed for surfacing work at Gateway Discovery Park (Jacob Loeb)}*

Parks planners anticipate crews will complete work in June, with most of the summer remaining for kids to enjoy the refreshed playground surface. Crews have no other park changes planned for this project, and the construction fence will come down as soon as the work concludes.

Jacob Loeb

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