Riverfront City Park 200 Water Street Northeast, Salem, OR 97301

"Best place in Salem! For years and years the riverfront area of Salem was taken over by grim industrial uses. Then for years of recovery, just tangled fields. Now, a changed and improved landscape that went from the worst to the best! I and my partner just took a chance that Salem had done up it's water front and we were not disappointed! There is free parking at the Park, but by the time we left, around 11:30am on a Sunday, it was filling up. The main feature of the first part of the Park is a great big kids play area, with restrooms. Everything is ADA accessible. There are a lot of curvy paths but they mostly led to the cool bridge over the small channel of the Willamette. My partner and I had our bikes and we eagerly crossed the bridge and found ourselves following the pilgrimage out onto the island, there were bikes, there were lots of pedestrians, there were many kids. We passed many plaques describing the history of the park and the land. The local politician Peter Courtney gets a shout out. The big flood of 1855, the paper mill, the flour mill, and what wild life lives here now. The park merges with Minto park and covers the whole island, paths go along the main fork of the Willamette are level and ideal for all ages and abilities. People are asked to be quite near the eagles nest. Back at the park near the parking lot, we wandered North along the paths and noticed a converted Train Bridge that was now a pedestrian bridge across the Willamette. We also noted the cool statue of the late governor Tom McCall."

"Passing through Salem, we had a few hours to "do as we see fit". So glad we picked the Riverfront City. Mid morning on a Sunday - there were joggers, a family with kids, an elderly couple holding hands out on a walk. As we walked past the huge fisherman's statue, he said, "I'm certain he wasn't as tall as that!" And we smiled at each other. I felt that the Riverfront City Park is a happy place. If I have some time to spare in Salem, I will visit again."

"Stopped for a car show and it was well maintained. Both public bathroom houses where clean and well maintained. Lots to do if you watch your kids (homeless downtown are 5 times more than 5 years ago). Clearly the city has put the road funds into maintenance of this park...lol. Carousel, playground, splash zone, river access, amphitheater, bike paths and pedestrian bridges over both river/creeks."