Facility Overview

The Montavilla Community Center Parking Lot is an open-air surface parking lot serving the historic Montavilla Community Center and the expansive 9.5-acre Montavilla Park in East Portland, Oregon. Positioned along NE Glisan Street just west of the bustling 82nd Avenue corridor, the lot provides immediate on-site vehicle access for community center visitors, recreational athletes, families, and neighborhood park patrons. Because the facility is an uncovered, ground-level surface lot, there are no overhead clearance height limitations, accommodating standard passenger cars, minivans, full-sized SUVs, large pickup trucks, and high-roof recreation vans with ease. The lot features designated perpendicular parking stalls, marked directional lanes, and dedicated ADA-compliant accessible spaces located directly adjacent to the building’s primary entrance ramp and walkways.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Located in the heart of Portland's vibrant Montavilla neighborhood, this parking facility serves as a gateway to community recreation, education, and local commerce:

• Montavilla Park & Outdoor Pool: Directly outside your car door, this public park features the Montavilla Outdoor Pool, a Portland Timbers-sponsored futsal court, softball and soccer fields, a modern playground, and paved walking paths.
• Larry Krohn Gymnasium: The centerpiece of the Montavilla Community Center, hosting year-round indoor pickleball, youth basketball, fitness programs, and preschool classes.
• Jessup University (formerly Multnomah University): Located immediately adjacent to the east and north, making this lot a recognizable landmark for campus-adjacent visitors and community events.
• Historic Downtown Montavilla (SE Stark Street): Located just 0.7 miles south (a 12-to-15-minute walk), this beloved commercial district is renowned for the historic Academy Theater, indie coffee roasters, craft cocktail lounges, and premier neighborhood dining spots like Redwood and Flying Pie Pizzeria.
• Mount Tabor Park: Situated less than two miles southwest, offering scenic extinct-volcano caldera trails, open reservoirs, and panoramic skyline views of downtown Portland.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward via an established driveway entrance off NE Glisan Street. Traffic moves smoothly during regular community center hours, though drivers should remain mindful of pedestrian foot traffic, school children, and sports leagues arriving during afternoon and weekend matches. Exiting onto NE Glisan provides swift connections to major thoroughfares:

• Freeway Proximity: Motorists enjoy exceptionally fast connections to Interstate 205 (I-205) via the Glisan Street ramps located roughly half a mile east, as well as easy westbound access to Interstate 84 (Banfield Freeway) toward downtown Portland.
• Public Transit Connections: TriMet bus service runs directly past the property on NE Glisan Street (Line 19), with high-frequency north-south transit on NE 82nd Avenue via Line 72. In addition, the NE 82nd Ave MAX Light Rail Station (servicing the Blue, Green, and Red lines) is approximately one mile away, providing rapid transit connections to Portland International Airport (PDX) and the central city.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Paved, open-air surface parking with clearly designated vehicle bays.
• Dedicated ADA-accessible parking spaces adjacent to paved walkways and entrance ramps.
• Zero vertical height restrictions, accommodating high-roof vans, utility trucks, and vehicles carrying roof racks.
• Complimentary short-term parking reserved for registered guests and visitors of Montavilla Community Center and Montavilla Park.
• Exterior area lighting illuminating parking bays and pedestrian walkways during evening operating hours.
• On-site bike racks for multi-modal commuters and cycling enthusiasts.

Ideal For

• Families, swimmers, and fitness enthusiasts attending seasonal sessions at the Montavilla Outdoor Pool or indoor center classes.
• Local sports leagues, futsal players, pickleball enthusiasts, and community gymnastic program attendees.
• Park visitors enjoying weekend picnics, playground playdates, or walks through Montavilla Park.
• Neighborhood residents attending civic meetings, educational workshops, and community events.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Parking is typically free of charge for patrons actively utilizing park and community center amenities; however, spots can fill quickly on warm summer afternoons when the outdoor pool is in session or during youth weekend sports tournaments. As with all public urban surface lots across Portland, drivers are strongly encouraged to practice vehicle safety: never leave bags, electronics, or personal belongings visible inside your car, and ensure windows and doors are firmly locked before leaving your vehicle. Vehicles must adhere to posted Portland Parks & Recreation regulations; overnight parking or unpermitted long-term staging is strictly prohibited, and the lot closes when park hours conclude at 10:00 PM.