Custer Park

Last night, Jr. Villager and I went on a walk/drive around the neighborhood for some bike practice and playtime. Well, I guess we went on sort of a drive/ride/walk. We started up at the Multnomah Center and I followed Jr. Villager as he rode his little bike down the sidewalks through the village main drag, and then back to the Center.

Then, we decided to make tracks for Custer Park, which is actually named after General George Custer, and not some local Custer. We like Custer Park, since it's usually a little quieter than it's more famous neighbor Gabriel Park, but also has a play area that's more friendly to slightly older kids. One of the cool things about Custer Park is the swings, which have great long chains that give you a long, smooth ride. There are four swings. Two for little kids (the full seat with leg holes kind), and two of the strappy "grown-up" kind. But the really cool thing about them is that they sit on the top of this great hill, giving you an huge expansive view of the park while you're swinging, making you think you're catching major air. Forgive the lousy camera-phone picture....



The play area is pretty cool, especially since this is one of the few parks nearby that features a mix of new and classic playground equipment. Can you say "merry-go-round"? See-saws too. How about another lousy picture...



The big hill is great for watching action in the field. There is a full baseball/softball field with a very large outfield, in which there is often some other sport going on. I've seen soccer, rugby, pickup football. I wouldn't mind seeing some pickup Ultimate Frisbee.... We've used the hill as a great launching point for one of those big styrofoam gliders. There's a nice, short walking path that loops down the hill and around the back of the baseball diamond. Last night we watched a pretty hardcore womens softball team practicing. We've seen them before. Jr. Villager was very excited to get to fetch a few foul balls.

In a neighborhood with so many great little hideaways, Custer Park makes for a semi-hidden gem. It's a great place to pass a few hours on a summer evening, between dinnertime and bathtime. See you there sometime!