I almost feel that I shouldnt share this review so I can keep this park a little more of a secret.I took my son specifically for the splash pad, because if your a parent you know how crowded splash pads can be when its 90+ degrees out.This park when I got there had maybe 6 kids there and at most ended up with 15 which I think was great because my son can be in a spot and out of no where could end up at the far end of the park at the blink of an eye.Splash pad was great, not the best out there bit perfect for a couple hrs of play time for him.Great play structures, 2 as a matter of fact, public restroom, basketball court, and a big area for baseball.

The park is quite lovely! I go there to play pokemon go because of the pokestops and the gym!Its good exercise and you dont have to walk very far to get the pokestops so its also very efficient for getting pokeballs and gifts!

The park was mostly closed down. There were a few benches and tables available, but they remained occupied by a couple talking who refused to wear masks. The baseball diamond was empty though and we could walk around. Very few people, social distancing was easy enough.

Very nice park its great for walking

One of the best places to go in the summer that is free! Its a fun place to take your kids to all year round, however when they turn that water on the kids go crazy! I have been taking my kids here for 7 years now and they love it just as much as they did the first time we went! During the summer they also provide free lunches so thats cool as well.

Does anyone know if the splash pad is open now with the covid stuff going on? Looking for a place to take my daughter to cool off this week with the upcoming hotter weather.

Quite and not flooded with homeless people or drug paraphernalia like our other parks!!

The park had plenty of shade, quiet neighborhood plenty of parking

Really nice tennis courts

Not a lot of people.... peaceful

Place is huge and it is s nice looking park. There has been some safety issues there with violence during broad daylight -- people robbing and bothering other people who are just neighbors trying to watch their kids. Its too bad, because I would go there more often if it was safer.

Tennis courts nice, and bathrooms open.

Its my neighborhood park. The mural on the bathroom is lovely and children frequently play on the baseball diamond. A real wholesome callback to old Portland.

My family loves to visit this park in the summer because of the water park and the concerts and movies in the park. there is a playground, and restrooms also. this easter we held an easter egg hunt for our kids and the location is safe and easily accessed.

Nice park and cool art on the bathrooms

Small park with an old tennis court. Could use some love.

Fun park with to separate play structures, 1 thats a larger are older kids and one thats smaller and very good for toddlers. The splash pad is pretty basic but gets the job done and everyone definitely seems to enjoy it.

New play ground equipment.

Sheldon(my dog) totally loved it. He got to play catch w/ his frisbee , hit every tree, all the bushes , and likes the pinecones. I was able to enjoy the park by sitting on one of many benches and picnic tables. Drinking fountains worked well also.

Great park, has a lot of space and multi use in it. The water park there is a decent size and runs in the summertime. Whoever runs community events there, does a great job advertising it as well as has a lot going on, keeping the community entertained and connected.On the down side, it can be very shady and unsafe during certain times of the day... mostly sundown to early morning. I see a lot of people shooting up, and smoking out of crack pipes in the wee hours of the night. Also has a lot of Bum camps a block away from Powell, that seem to rarely move. When the Police do come around, it cleans up for a day or two, but then goes right back.

Kids always have a blast. #MomOfBoys

I would not recommend this park because the bathroom is horrible, its very gross and smells bad. there is not much to do at that park , its sort of like a baby park, its not very interesting how ever there is a water park there so that gave it another star. The only thing that is fun about that park is the water. Would not recommend (.)

Its a good park and there are a lot of summer activities bit the homeless people constantly hanging out by the bathrooms is a little much. I took my daughter here one time and there were three homeless people asleep on the bigger play structure.

Great big park with amenities for everyone.

Love my neighborhood park

Good bud

This park is cool! Its also a water park, they got a great area to play in the water! Kids had a blast!

A large park with numerous activities for all ages.

Its a place for family and a reading relaxing.

Portland Parks does a fabulous job with supporting the community with activities, a clean park and free lunch for kids.

Splash pad was cool, but the play equipment is in direct sunlight so it was hot. There were also some crack heads posted up by the fountain and bathrooms not letting people use the facilities.

Its a good place to bring you kid and they have free lunch there in the summer

Kid friendly splash pad, lots of activities...tennis, basketball, 2 play structures. Only gave 4 stars because it could have been cleaner.

Nice little park. Drinking water spouts actually on. Bathrooms were large and open but filthy and full of trash.

Nice water fountain to play in for kids ..water needs little stronger

Nice park

The splashpad is a little old, but it still works! The playground is great with multiple slides for the little ones.

I really didnt take time to explore the park fully but it seems like an adequate neighborhood facility.

Always good place to visit. Memories

This park is cool! Its also a water park, they got a great area to play in the water! Kids had a blast!

A real gem in an otherwise struggling Southeast Portland; facilities for a great variety of activities. If fact, Ive attended two childrens birhday-parties at Essex with my own kids--both great!

Very chillaxd.

The rudest drug dealers in the city. Also a great place to watch homeless people vargo over the water feature to bath in.

I just ride by on my bicycle. I do see lots of nieghbors out walking or walking their dogs. The park is small & kept clean. Kind of out in the open. Not heavily full of trees. I believe they play baseball there

Great baseball times

Went for the spray park on a hot day, and its not on yet. June 12th someone said. Budget cuts they claim. Sucks to not have a splash pad open in June like the sign said it would be

Small but its a nice park.

Two play structures and a smash pad all within a stones throw of eachother. Its great!

This is a gem in the neighborhood for sure. Great open space to run around or play sports. Nice playground and structures onsite. Easy to get to from many different directions. If you get the chance to stroll through and play for bit, go for it!

Great park! Only down fall is no swings.

Nice grounds...but regular cleaning of the porta potty needs to be done. A mess for all little league players and fans.

My childhood park. I love it.

Its got a water park.... So yes it is cool!!

Fun place for the whole family. Grounds well kept. Picnic areas as well as water works!

Nice park to walk through and take your dog. Very busy during the summer it when there are sports

Fun place to stay cool and bbq

Other than the homeless taking up all the tables it a fun park

Very nice little local family park. Kids playstructures and some simple, fun, water features that my son loved running through screaming his head off.

This is a great park for the family

It has a water park and regular playgrounds for the kids and to enjoy and also basketball quart and tennis courts and big grassy areas to relax or play different types of outdoor sports in!

I have had my Grandsons Birthday Parties here for 7yrs straight of his 9 yrs of LIfe, We have had nothing but wonderful times here, There are some homeless folks running around, but No Problems as of yet.. We spend 6 to 8 hours at each party, My parents (before my Mom Passed in 2013) lived just a couple blocks away and my Mom and I walked through this park Every day for Many years without any problems, It is fantastic with the sprinkler system for kids and a nice playground. I would recommend it to anybody with small children, as long as they have Adult supervision at all times... I Love this Park!

A great park despite the frequent bums.

Nice splash pad. Restrooms occupied by junkies right where kids are playing. Free lunch only goes from 12 to 1.

Is a great park for the kids!

Decent park when the homeless arent camping or hanging out there!

The park in all honesty is enormous, and offers a variety of amenities for all ages and types..

Have only ridden my bicycle near here-havent actually stopped here.

Good place to buy meth

Lots of homeless people and other strange people who Definately looked like they were on drugs, made me a bit nervous being there with my toddler. Park itself is great especially the water fountains. I would not recommend using their bathrooms though as homeless ppl often sleep in there and who knows what else goes on in there.

It was nice except the only restroom the kids kid use was across the fields behind the baseball field by the corner next to the street! Not going baxk till the bathrooms open by the playground

This park is awesome the only thing i was disappointed about is it says on their site that they open the water pad memorial day weekend and ends labor day and i went there with the kids and the pwater pad was not working.

Basketball court with shade! Tennis court, splash pad, bathrooms, couple of picnic tables and a playground with two nice structures. No swings and didnt notice any drinking fountain.

Provided a place to have a date with my lady and see my kids... Penske.

This is an excellent park that has a full basketball court, full two tennis courts, two play grounds and during the summer the sprinkles turn on. It also has a baseball and bathrooms with a drinking fountain. Plenty of parking on the side streets. However, recently in the news there have been several violent crimes at the park, hence the 4 stars. Overall great park. Usually not busy.

Decent park during the day, however at night some of the homeless have been known to setup here.Every morning members of the surrounding community gather to clean up the things left behind by the ones who have chosen to stay here and disrespectfully leave their trash behind.

Beware of loud ignorant moms that cant handle hearing other kids tell on their kids for cussing. Smh

Nice water feature for the kids, but lots of sketchy homeless people.

Had alot of fun here

Not as many homeless as you would expect.

A nice looking little park on a rainy afternoon. Bathrooms were a little dingy but in an endearing way. There was a nice seeming man outside the bathrooms furiously smoking marijuana but he didnt offer me any. All in all a pretty good experience.

Its a really good looking little park.. Has playground, with play climbing, swing set type stuff...Also a baseball diamond...It appears to have restrooms.... But since its winter .....things are always closed up.Plenty of street parking.But as with all the neighborhood parks in Portland....do watch for needles most likely near the bushy areas.

Loved it went to movie in the park there nice park

Really nice ! Beautiful place to stop. So very pretty.

Two good play structures and a water splash pad for the younger folks. Tennis courts as well. Lots of grass!

Super calm and chill

Nice quiet park, but the toilet was stinky.

Thanks to our lovely Mayor Ted Wheeler and City Council, this park is now a homeless refuge and bicycle chop shop.

Kids love that park

Awesome park , water toys for the kids in the summer . Tennis court, baseball diamond , basket ball court and space to play soccer.

Definitely not a place that Id ever bring my son to. Its very dirty, theres garbage everywhere.. Homeless people have taken it over completely..

Splash pad shut down on a 90°day

Good 4 kids

Splash pad is my little mans fav. Homeless folk BUT they have yet to bother me and mine. Restrooms can use some help but clean overall.

Kids love the splash pad, but the restroom needs major work, door wont even close.

The park itself is fairly well maintained, but its becoming a magnet for homeless campers.

Fun place for kids of all ages. Great water park in the summer, basketball Cort and tennis cort.

Big tall trees which is nice in the summer for the shade

Great place to take the kids. 2 play areas and a splash pad. Tennis and basketball court

Good little park

Nice little water park. Tho the water starts at 11am not 9