Exciting Improvements And Thrilling Additions Coming To Riverfront Park When Playground Reopens This September (Photo) - 08/05/26
Salem, Ore. — This fall, Riverfront Park welcomes area children to the City of Salem's first intentionally designed inclusive play space, where children of all abilities can swing, slide, scramble and socialize together. During construction, Salem’s Riverfront Carousel, the splash pad and the Rotary Pavilion remain open to the public, and public restrooms are available in Riverfront Park.
New playground equipment will be ready for kids by the end of September. From a new park path around the play space, families can watch progress on this new, inclusive playground with several features designed following conversations with Salem families. Installation is underway to include artificial turf that is easier on wheelchair users and reduces static electricity, which helps prevent interference with devices like cochlear implants. The playground will also feature the first “rock scramble” in a Salem park with real rocks.
While we make the playground improvements, we are also making electrical improvements throughout the park to better support large events at Riverfront Park and the annual holiday light display.
Community Input Helped Shape Design
City staff reached out to families who need inclusive options and based design decisions on their feedback. Special features include:
- A quieter, low-sensory zone called the Eagle’s Nest
- An all-inclusive accessible spinner
- A music station
- Fencing around the entire playground for families that need fully enclosed play space
- Rolling bars on one of the slides and specialized synthetic grass that safely reduces static electricity, helping prevent interference with devices like cochlear implants
The design also prioritizes accessibility and comfort for families and caregivers. Smooth paved pathways — including an extra-wide bridge — allow everyone to reach the second level of the main play structure. Multiple seating options are provided throughout the playground for caregivers, along with attractive landscaping and additional shade trees planted around the play area to create a welcoming and comfortable environment.
The playground’s theme centers on wildlife and nature. For example, a climbing structure made of logs will be called the Beaver Dam. Consistent with the future play elements envisioned in the park’s 2019 improvement plan, the playground also incorporates a rock scramble using natural boulders. The synthetic turf features color variations to evoke a watershed.
The playground’s entryway will feature circles on the pavement that are riddles. They feature animal motifs and can show visitors where in the playground they can find the image again.
The new playground will be bigger and separated from park paths, helping to minimize user conflicts. Instead, a new 12-foot-wide path now arcs around the playground through the south part of the South Meadow and is open for public use. This also encompasses a tree-filled area that will provide shade for informal picnics and opportunities to enjoy the park’s natural setting.
We are taking care to protect and preserve the park’s existing trees. The project was designed to minimize impacts, with only one tree initially planned for removal. After construction began and in consultation with City Urban Forestry staff, a second tree was determined necessary for removal. These removals were carefully considered and will be mitigated over time through the many new trees planted as part of the project.
