Colonel Summers Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Colonel Summers Park is a popular park located in the city of Portland, Oregon.


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Summary

There are several good reasons to visit this park, including its many amenities, such as sports fields, playground equipment, and picnic areas. The park is also home to a large fountain that is a popular spot for children to play in during the summer months.

One of the main points of interest at Colonel Summers Park is the community garden, which is run by local residents. Visitors can take a stroll through the garden and admire the many different plants and flowers that are grown there.

Another notable feature of Colonel Summers Park is its location in the heart of the Hawthorne neighborhood, which is known for its vibrant arts and culture scene. Visitors can explore the many shops, restaurants, and galleries in the area, making Colonel Summers Park a great place to spend an entire day.

Interesting facts about the park include its history as a former landfill site, which was transformed into a beautiful park in the 1970s. The park is also home to several large oak trees that are over 100 years old.

The best time of year to visit Colonel Summers Park is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and sunny and the fountain is in full swing. However, the park is open year-round and offers plenty of activities and amenities for visitors to enjoy in all seasons.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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