Barrows Park

Barrows park is a relatively new park in our neighborhood, and it has some unique features. The feature that distinguishes it from most is that it has a smooth rubber surface instead of wood chips. Linus just loves to run on a rubber surface, so the fun equipment is just a bonus. The one thing this park lacks is a set of swings. There are slides galore, but no swings.

This park is actually a long strip of land with a walking/biking path running through it. If you park on Menlor Lane, you would be at the east end of the park and the first thing you'd encounter would be some concrete animal sculptures. The animals are fun for climbing, and they are a nice artistic element to the park.

The next item is the main play structure. This structure has a spiral slide, a pair of small slides, a tunnel, and some other typical playground features.

Further west, there is a structure aimed at a younger age group. This structure has a molded slide-like climbing feature (see picture) that is fun for early climbing. This structure also has a couple of wavy slides and some manipulatives (a periscope, a set of gears, and a steering wheel).

Next to the younger play structure is a steep hill that has two slides built in (no ladder or stairs for the slides, just climb the hill). These slides are pretty fast but still doable for a tot...that makes for big fun in our book! One side of the hill is sometimes hard to climb because it gets covered in sand. That brings us to the one feature of this park that I fully DISlike -- the sandbox. The sand does make a mess of the rubber surface, but that wouldn't be so bad if it was a good sandbox. Unfortunately, it's filled with dirty sand that isn't great for sand play. Fortunately, I met the maintenance manager for all of the Tualatin Hills parks at a recent informational meeting and he said this sand box is coming out and will be replaced with a sitting area.

At the top of the hill, on the west-most end of the park, there is a drinking fountain that has been working in an on-again/off-again kind of way. It has one of those cute doggy drinking fountains at the bottom, for any canine park visitors. Overall, Barrows park is a fun place to climb, slide, and run.

Magnolia Park

Magnolia Park is a really fun place if you find yourself in the Tanasbourne area. It is fully-featured and has some unique items that give this park extra personality. I've had a hard time getting many pictures when we are there because Linus runs all over the place!

One way this park stands out is that it has a toddler play structure that is separate from the big kids' area. There's no physical barrier separating the two, but they are on opposite sides of a sidewalk. The toddler structure is easy to access with steps and has several slides and a low set of monkey bars. There is a springy teeter-totter and two baby swings to complete the toddler section.

The big kid's play are has slides that are big and steep, but not so fast that the kids slide off the end. They are all accessible by steps, so even the little ones can get up to the big slides. There's the standard suspension bridge that is always a hit, and several unique twirly structures.

If the weather is warm, pack and extra outfit or put your child in a swimsuit to take advantage of the splash fountain. The pulses of water bring the squeals out of Linus in a big way, and there are fun turtle-like rock mounds to climb on in the water area.


The covered picnic area is a great place to dry off and catch a snack or meal. There's also a big grassy lawn if a blanket picnic is more your style. There is even a grill if you want to make a party out of your trip to this park. For bathrooms, there is only an outhouse, but it is a double-wide roomy one. There is, however, a working drinking fountain.

Overall, a stop at Magnolia park is a great reward for a child who is patient during shopping in the nearby Tanasbourne stores, or a fun destination in it's own right. This is one we'll be sure to visit over and over!

Aardvark Fun Park

(Pictures to be added soon.)
This playground is *THE* hidden gem of playgrounds if there ever was one. I can't tell you how many people I've had tell me, "Oh, I heard the playground at OES is fun, but I haven't been there." If you haven't been there, you're missing out in a big way. (Full disclosure: I'm finishing a one-year appointment to the OES faculty, but I assure you that speaking highly of the playground is not a contractual obligation.) I am such a fan of this playground that this is going to be a long entry. You could do worse than to skip reading and just trust me and check out this park. Oregon Episcopal School allows public use of the park on evenings (6 PM to dusk) and weekends (9 AM to dusk).

To get to the Oregon Episcopal School campus, you turn onto Nicol Road from Scholls Ferry and you keep going until you end up in the parking lot of the school. You'll pass the playground on the way to the parking lot, so you'll know where to head when you get out of the car. Don't forget to bring snacks and water bottles from the car because your kids are going to want to play for a good, long time without getting bored!

Here's a list of the areas to check out:

• Wooden castle play structure: This is the most prominent structure, and probably the most fun. There are so many places to climb in this structure, and there are railings everywhere, so it is easy for a parent to observe w/o having to worry about a toddler falling at every turn. Also, the natural weathered wood is a nice change of scenery from the new-fangled plastic playgrounds! There are many little creative touches to discover within the structure, such as a set of musical pipes that are sounded by a nut & bolt mechanism. The slides in this are are metal, but there is ample shade to keep the temperature safe when we have visited. The ground surface is pebbles, so open shoes are not recommended.
• Swings galore: Within the wooden structure area, there are regular swings, baby swings, and a tire swing. In addition, there's another area with a whole row of regular swings...no waiting!
• Stand-alone slides: There's a large metal slide on each side of the driveway, a big attraction for my little guy.
• Modern structures: Across the driveway, ear the classrooms, there are more modern structures for different ages. There's a preschool-appropiate structure that is easily climbable, with slides that are easy for a tot to ride solo. There's also a more unusual structure aimed at stimulating creative play in a slightly older crowd, but my 2-year-old navigates it just fine. If you head further down the driveway to the paved area, there are some interesting structures installed in 2008. These structures are great for groups of school-age children, but they are hard to describe...picture a teeter-totter crossed with monkey bars, and you're on the right track. They even have a simple rowboat in the middle of the playground that is great for pretending.
• The soccer field: Young kids are fascinated by the astroturf and the painted lines that seem to go on for ever. Older kids like to test out the track or kick a ball on the field. Parents can also jog laps while older kids play. This field is great fun, but please remember not to bring your dogs on the astroturf so it can remain fun and not nasty! There is an adjacent grass field that is great for a game of dog frisbee.
• Basketball courts: Around the corner from the playground is a covered basketball court with tether balls nearby.
• Wetlands: While it is a bit of a walk up Nicol Road from the playground, the wetlands area is a nice place to observe birds and other sounds of nature.
• Facilities: The restrooms in the school buildings are not open to the public, but there is a drinking fountain near the soccer field.

This playground is the standard-bearer for other playgrounds in my mind, and also for Linus. We LOVE Aardvark Fun Park!