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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The summer season may be over, but Oaks Park says they have some plans in the works to make future seasons extra special.
The amusement park formally announced their 20-year expansion plan, detailing new rides, upgrades to existing structures and others. A portion of the first phase of the plan has already been complete with recent restorations made to the Dance Pavilion.
Brandon Roben, CEO of the nonprofit Oaks Park Association, told KOIN 6 News that one of the motivations for the expansion came with the good reception from the community with the opening of the Adrenaline Peak roller coaster back in 2018.
“It was like a shot of adrenaline in the park, and really, the energy increased,” Roben told KOIN 6 News. “That was the largest investment that the park had made, since its inception in 1905. So, with that, things really started to accelerate. And the board said, ‘You know, we really need to continue this momentum.’”
The expansion will also move many of the existing rides around, restore the park’s historic picnic shelter, and rework the parking area. All of this coinciding with the park’s 120th season.
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Renderings of the 20-year expansion plan for Oaks Park, Oct. 2025. (Oaks Park Association) -
Renderings of the 20-year expansion plan for Oaks Park, Oct. 2025. (Oaks Park Association) -
Renderings of the 20-year expansion plan for Oaks Park, Oct. 2025. (Oaks Park Association) -
Renderings of the 20-year expansion plan for Oaks Park, Oct. 2025. (Oaks Park Association) -
Renderings of the 20-year expansion plan for Oaks Park, Oct. 2025. (Oaks Park Association) -
Renderings of the 20-year expansion plan for Oaks Park, Oct. 2025. (Oaks Park Association) -
Renderings of the 20-year expansion plan for Oaks Park, Oct. 2025. (Oaks Park Association) -
Renderings of the 20-year expansion plan for Oaks Park, Oct. 2025. (Oaks Park Association) -
Renderings of the 20-year expansion plan for Oaks Park, Oct. 2025. (Oaks Park Association) -
Renderings of the 20-year expansion plan for Oaks Park, Oct. 2025. (Oaks Park Association) -
Renderings of the 20-year expansion plan for Oaks Park, Oct. 2025. (Oaks Park Association) -
Renderings of the 20-year expansion plan for Oaks Park, Oct. 2025. (Oaks Park Association)
According to Roben, the first phase is primarily focused on expanding the entertainment zone, as well as reworking parking.
“Right now, if you if you drive through the parking lot, there’s a huge bottleneck,” he said. “So, we’re going to be bringing those rides, moving them, under the tree canopy.”
He continued, “It’s not really getting any cooler in the area and making on an asphalt parking lot isn’t is an ideal for our customers.”
Since being run with nonprofit status since 1985, Roben noted Oaks Park has been slow to make significant improvements, only hiring their first development director just last year. Now, the Oaks Park Association looks to raise $40 million for the master plan to come to fruition. As a result, they are relying on fundraisers, donations, and profits from park admission to keep the master plan rolling.
Through the expansion, Roben added they’re determined to maintain the park’s historical attractions – preserving that particular “Oaks Park” quality which has drawn crowds spanning generations for the past 120 years.
“I want to make sure that some of the things that we have always done, that we continue to do,” Roben said. “But also make sure that when people come here, they feel like we are being good stewards of the property and that – it’s beautiful.”
The park is hoping to break ground on the next phase of the expansion in early 2026.
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Jenna Deml
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