Enjoy a hike, run, or bike ride at this scenic park in Salem, OR. It features both paved and natural trails and is home to Salem’s Riverfront Carousel, the Eco-Earth Globe sculpture, and a sheltered Rotary Pavilion.
The park hosts a variety of annual events such as the World Beat Festival, the 4th of July Celebration, and Summer Movies in the Park. It also connects to Minto-Brown Island Park via the Peter Courtney Minto Island bicycle and pedestrian bridge and to Wallace Marine Park by the Union Street Railroad Bridge. Click here for more info.
Riverfront Carousel
The Riverfront Carousel is one of the most popular family-friendly attractions in Salem. It’s located at the beautiful Riverfront City Park which also features a riverside green area, an amphitheater, A. C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village, the Eco Earth Globe sculpture, and a dock where the Willamette Queen Sternwheeler paddleboat docks.
This 23-acre park is nestled along the Willamette River in downtown Salem and was designed to accommodate local residents as well as regional events. The park offers a number of recreational activities and also hosts many fun summer festivals like the World Beat Festival or the Bite & Brew of Salem.
A huge portion of the park’s success can be attributed to its dedicated volunteers. The animals in the Riverfront Carousel are all hand-carved and painted, and each animal takes a couple of years to create. The volunteer group logged more than 365,000 hours as of June 2018.
Eco-Earth Globe
Salem’s iconic Riverfront City Park is brimming with family-friendly attractions. Stroll along the paved paths, enjoy a leisurely stroll on the scenic Willamette River waterfront, and grab photos at the classic riverfront carousel or awe-inspiring Eco-Earth Globe. This park also hosts many community events, from the annual 4th of July celebration and culturally expanding World Beat Festival to the aesthetically pleasing Peter Courtney Minto Island bicycle and pedestrian bridge that spans the river for access to Wallace Marine Park and Minto-Brown Island Park.
This 23-acre park features the Riverfront Carousel, A. C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village, an amphitheater, and the iconic Eco-Earth Globe. A massive tile mosaic sculpture and community art project, it is adorned with 86,000 ceramic tiles depicting the continents, oceans, and peoples of Earth. The project was a collaboration of professional artists and more than 125 local high school students under the direction of art director Mary Heintzman. The sculpture took more than 30,000 volunteer hours to complete and is one of the most visited things to do in Salem Oregon. A great place to also visit is Willamette Mission State Park.
Let’s All Play Place
The Let’s All Play Place therapeutic playground enhances physical, sensory, emotional, and behavioral skills for children and adults with special needs. Created in partnership with Salem Health’s rehabilitation therapists, it includes a variety of customizable equipment to promote community integration within a public playground setting.
Riverfront City Park is a vibrant, multi-use space where countless people come to celebrate life. Whether it’s for the annual 4th of July fireworks or the culturally expanding World Beat Festival, the paved trails and signature attractions like the Salem Riverfront Carousel draw crowds all summer. The park’s aesthetically pleasing new pedestrian bridge spanning the river to connect to Minto-Brown Island Park is another eye-catching feature.
The new bridge, along with the re-opened Union Street Railroad Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge, makes it easier than ever to explore the parks and scenic areas around Downtown Salem from both sides of the Willamette River. When you’re ready to get out, the sheltered Rotary Pavilion, amphitheater and plenty of grassy spaces are ideal for picnics, Frisbee, or a game of volleyball.
Woodmansee Park
Woodmansee Park at Riverfront City Park is a scenic urban event venue nestled along the Willamette River in downtown Salem. Grassy areas, amphitheaters, a playground, a splash pad, and the Eco Earth Globe sculpture are among its features. It also has a sheltered pavilion and docking area for the Willamette Queen Sternwheeler.
Visitors to the park can take a leisurely walk on the wide paths that crisscross the park. They can play tennis, baseball, or a game of disc golf, or just enjoy the view.
If you want to get some exercise, you can run the outside loop of the park or link up with Wallace Marine Park to complete a 3.5-mile loop. In addition, you can check out the Oregon Historical Museum and the Governor’s Mansion. This cosmopolitan city is also home to the Salem Convention Center and offers many shopping and dining options. It is the gateway to the Willamette Valley wine country and is known as the “Cherry City.” The fertile Willamette Valley provides plenty of agricultural products for the city. Discover more interesting articles.
Driving directions from A+ Exterior Cleaning to Riverfront City Park
Driving directions from Riverfront City Park to Gilbert House Children’s Museum
