More than 5,000 acres of “urban forest” provide the backdrop for Portland’s Forest Park neighborhood. This community—home to 2,702 people as of 2016—offers a uniquely harmonious blend of natural Pacific Northwest beauty with the charms of city life just a short distance away.
The neighborhood is situated in Northwest Portland, adjacent to Forest Park—though the neighborhood does also incorporate the southern portion of the park. Development of the neighborhood is a fairly recent endeavor, with the average year of home construction being 1982. Many homes reflect a regal yet modern style of architecture and feature stunning, panoramic views of largely preserved woodland and portions of Portland’s skyline.
The neighborhood covers about 18 square miles and offers a quick commute to Northwest or downtown Portland, along with access to Portland’s suburbs.
Forest Park Attractions
In 1903, John Charles Olmsted and his brother Frederick Law Olmsted—sons of the designer of New York City’s Central Park—proposed that the woodland hills above Portland be designated as a “forest park.” Several attempts were made to develop real estate within the park, but these were thwarted in an attempt to retain the land’s biodiversity and create a natural haven for city-dwellers. Residents of the Forest Park neighborhood are among the primary benefactors of the park, which includes more than 80 miles of trails and overlooks Northwest Portland and the convergence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. After a day spent exploring the trails, many hikers make a stop at the nearby Skyline Restaurant, a historic family oriented diner.
The neighborhood also offers close proximity to a number of other popular locations, including the Oregon Zoo and International Rose Test Garden, shopping and dining at one of the many local eateries and retailers in Northwest Portland, and more.
Bordering Neighborhoods: Sylvan-Highlands, Hillside, Northwest Heights, Northwest Industrial
Zip Code: 97229
Almost all errands require a car.
It is possible to get on a bus.
Very steep hills, excellent bike lanes.