'A great opportunity': Nonprofit revives summer fun at Sellwood Park's historic Shack
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Summer childcare can be brutal — expensive, stressful, and often hard to find. But in Portland’s Sellwood Park, a piece of the city’s recreational past is making a comeback, offering something free for every family.
For decades, the building known as "The Shack" stood vacant. Once a hub for community activities, it is now being revived by the nonprofit Sellwood Community House. This summer, the Shack will host free daily activities for kids and families, from sports and crafts to games and classes.
“We’re going to offer something for all ages, every single day,” said Ashley Murray, executive director of Sellwood Community House. “Everything is going to be free.”
The Shack, originally built as housing for mill workers, later became one of Portland’s first community centers. It has been a long-standing landmark for Sellwood residents like Pat Hainley, who grew up in the neighborhood.
“We used to come up here all the time in the summer,” said Hainley.
Now, with no extra funding from the city, it’s up to the community to bring the Shack back to life. The building is owned by the City of Portland, but Sellwood Community House is handling the renovations and operations. The nonprofit is still raising funds to cover up to $100,000 in costs to run the Shack this summer.
“This is going to be completely transformed,” Murray said.
The goal is to make this park a model for other neighborhoods, encouraging families to get outside and reconnect.
“I think it’s just a great opportunity to stumble to the park and have no reason to leave until the sun sets,” Murray added.
The Shack officially opens June 20th, but a fundraiser will take place on May 29th from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Shack, where visitors can tour the space, learn about the program, and find out how to support this effort to bring back free, local summer recreation.
The Sellwood Community House has more information about programs and the fundraiser.