Oaks Amusement Park
|
|
Oaks Park, an amusement park, is located 15 minutes by car south of downtown Portland, Oregon, near the Sellwood Bridge. Its midway rides and 44 acres (178,000 m²) of grounds are modest; except during special events (such as the Fourth of July and Oktoberfest) the park can be quite empty.
The park was built by the Oregon Water Power and Navigation Company and opened on May 30, 1905, during a period when trolley parks were often constructed along streetcar lines. By 1985, the park was donated to a not-for-profit corporation which operates it as of 2004.
Notable rides include the cyclone, a giant slide, a looping roller coaster and bumper cars. There is also a slow-moving miniature train ride for kids. The roller skating rink is opened year-round and is considered by many to be the best part of the park; roller skates and roller blades can be rented at the rink.
The park, being at a very low altitude, is prone to flooding. In the past, flooding was so frequent that the floor of the roller skating rink was put on floating pontoons which kept it safely above the water.
External links
- The park's website (http://www.oakspark.com/)