This Sunday, July 19th, Sunday Parkways will close roads in Northeast Portland from 9am to 4pm, featuring attractions ranging from a petting zoo to an orchestra. Full map here.

The last Sundays Parkways happened on Father’s Day, when Portland closed off 7.5 miles of roadway in North Portland. I would like to thank Portland for doing so specifically for me, Daddy-Travis. The route was great, joining together several neighborhoods with events and sights along the way. Families on bikes were most notably seen, however, Sunday Parkways drew a wide audience of cyclists, walkers, and runners.   

As a family, we rode the loop that included Peninsula and Arbor Lodge parks. We pedaled past Peninsula, knowing that we would hit it on the way back so on we went. Throughout the route we rode over chalk drawings and statements of celebration for the day.

Volunteers stood by at many of the side streets to assist with questions and help people driving cars make it to their houses. Police stood at the intersections to main streets waving the Parkway users on through, smiling and saying “hi” to all the kids.   

We stopped at Arbor Lodge Park for music and a drink. Our sons tried the unicycles without much luck. I would like to say that I mastered a unicycle, but I cannot. The park was filled with every bike imaginable, even the elusive “Bullitt” cargo bike about which I have only read. Yes, I touched it.

The kids jumped in the box and we were off to our next destination. Peninsula Park was our second stop, just before our house. Here we perused the vendors a bit more, stopping to check out Zip Car. Of course we did take a moment to breathe in the glory that is the Rose Garden of North Portland before heading home.

I was unable to attend last year’s Sunday Parkway so I reveled in the fact that the planets aligned to make it happen this year. I was told by a woman we met at the Peninsula Park stop that this year’s route was larger and there were more sideline attractions—food, vendors, music, and “people just watching”. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon on Fathers’ Day (my day), surrounded by bikes, enjoying the calm and simplicity, and being with family.

The day ended as perfectly as it started and we headed off to a friend’s house for a BBQ where the driveway was packed with bikes; it was a sight.