St. Francis Park

Please know there is a large community of houseless and homeless folks who are accessing the services of the St. Francis Church. I play music each summer for their summer BBQ and the same «creepy» people Unilocalers are complaining about are the ones who actually put their money into my suitcase, in spite of being homeless. I have never encountered anything but kindness and respect from the campers. Don’t judge unless you know someone’s story. There are plenty of wealthy bankers who are much more dangerous and predatory than these people.

how can I put this delicately? don’t ever, under any circumstances, accept candy or a ride from anyone you meet at this park. EVER.
set back in a verdant corner of Southeast just off Stark Street on Vegan Row, St. Francis seems like an appealing place to spend a sunny saturday afternoon. it seems so in the same way that a pitcher plant SEEMS like it isn’t nature’s perfect vision of an elaborate Eli Roth-​style insect death machine.
I was charmed into a false sense of well-​being by the impressive landscaping and the elaborate jungle gym structures I glimpsed from the street on my approach. but then I spotted the gentleman furiously masturbating under a blanket on the lawn. and the fella in the trench coat standing in amongst the swings, hands thrust deep in his pockets… JUST STARING. staring like staring was a JOB. this guy was the assistant district manager of STARING. but don’t think he’ll be assistant district manager forever, oh, no. no, he’s got his wide, unblinking eyes on the prize. that big promotion is his in a landslide, so long as he KEEPS ON STARING. FOREVER.
BRRRrrrr.
anyway. this park is perfect for filming low budget adaptations of Silent Hill. but if you’re a parent with small, impressionable children who cry when strange men stare at them, don’t take them to this park. take them to a less scary park.

On a Friday afternoon, around lunchtime, I was in the neighborhood. Crossing the street, about to walk into Food Fight for the first time, I saw the entrance to St. Francis Park. The landscaping and the playground fooled me into thinking it would be a nice place for an enjoyable stroll before doing some grocery shopping.
I like to think l am a mostly tough little gal but I got about 10 steps in and noticed several groups of sketchy-​looking characters hanging out all over the place. I typically don’t like to judge people by their appearance, but my gut told me this wasn’t safe. I don’t think I’d want to walk through here even if I wasn’t alone. I turned around and left.
What a shame because it really looks like such a pretty park.

it’s a lovely looking park. i say looking because it’s usually filled with transients and I’m too scared to actually walk in. a bummer. it’s right near where I work and looks like it could be a fun place to take my kid to play.

Privately owned and operated by the church, not Portland Parks and Rec, this one’s a weird one. It worth a stroll if you happen to be on the block, but yikes, be careful what time of day you choose to do that. I’d go with mid-​morning on a weekend, only if you can first confirm who’s in there (you can’t really tell from the street), or if you’re wandering out of the Hungry Tiger Too drunk off All Day Sippers and looking to make new friends.
Jen T is right… it’s pretty creepy. Two stars for being a park with paths, benches, and play stuff, and cuttin’ them some slack for it being privately owned by a non-​profit, I totally get that the maintenance budget is probably non-​existent and I’m sure they try as best they can.
Might try again next time I’m feeling fearless, but that close to Laurelhurst and Colonel Summers… probably skip it. Really not sure what to click for the «Good For Kids?» prompt, so I think I’ll leave that one as «not sure».

Part of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic, this serene park features a wonderful playground and small grassy area perfect for any child! BUT upon passing the park one beautiful sunny Wednesday at approximately 2:30pm, I noticed no children and instead just like, ten creepy, grown-​ass men hanging out at the jungle gym. WHAT. THE. HELL. CREEPIEST. PARK. EVER.