Golden Road Arts Presents Free Art Lessons in Public Parks the Summer of 2023
After the last several years’ successful run of free art events, Golden Road Arts and the Hillsboro Public Library will partner again to create free art lessons in Hillsboro, Oregon. Through the Art in the Park series, Golden Road Arts will visit 14 Hillsboro public parks and deliver hands-on art education to elementary and middle school children in the community. Taking place during July and August of 2023, Art in the Park – in conjunction with Hillsboro Public Library’s well-known Library on the Loose program – will promote creativity and literacy for school-aged kids.
Be sure to see the complete schedule below for park dates and times, and plan to attend as many free Art in the Park events as you can this summer.

Hillsboro Art in the Park Dates and Locations
July
- Tuesday, July 11 – McKinney Park, 11:30 a.m.
- Thursday, July 13 – Orenco Woods Nature Park, 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 18 – Walnut Street Park, 11:30 a.m.
- Thursday, July 20 – 53rd Avenue Community Park, 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 25 – Shadywood Park, 11:30 a.m.
- Thursday, July 27 – Frances Street Park, 6:00 p.m.
August
- Tuesday, August 1 – Shute Park, 11:30 a.m.
- Thursday, August 3 – Butternut Creek Park, 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, August 8 – Rood Bridge Park, 11:30 a.m.
- Thursday, August 10 – Magnolia Park, 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, August 15 – Reedville Creek Park, 11:30 a.m.
- Thursday, August 17 – Evergreen Park, 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, August 22 – Tamarack Park, 11:30 a.m.
- Thursday, August 24 – Bicentennial Park, 6:00 p.m.
Each event will be 90 minutes and is open to the public.
What Is Art in the Park?
Art in the Park is an event series combining literacy and art to provide a fun and educational experience for elementary and middle school children.
For each of the 14 Hillsboro events, a specially chosen library book will be selected to form the basis of the free art lesson. Attendees will listen as Rocio Espinoza-Cotero of the Hillsboro Public Library reads a story in Spanish. Barbara Mason will then read the same story in English.
After listening to the story, children are encouraged to complete art projects based on the themes of the book. Age-appropriate books provided by the library, and a free coloring book created by Golden Road Arts, are also provided for every child in a take-home kit.
How Can Art in the Park Benefit School-Aged Children?
Art in the Park, alongside Library on the Loose, ensures that elementary and middle school children are given a creative outlet this summer. The feedback from last year’s events highlighted how the accessible and story-driven art project format sparked a creative interest that flourished throughout the summer. With guidance and support from Barbara Mason and others, children are encouraged to experiment with art techniques and discuss their work openly.
Art in the Park also provides an opportunity for kids to get out of the house and enjoy Hillsboro’s public parks. The event themes are the outdoors, nature and diversity, and the beautiful surroundings of the parks provide the perfect backdrop for a day of creative expression.
As those familiar with the free art resources created by Golden Road Arts will already know, access to quality art education has many additional benefits that assist children throughout their academic life. From confidence-building and academic performance to fine motor skills and communication skills, art education is an important companion for math, science, languages and other foundational subjects in the curriculum.
Join Us for Free Art Events in Oregon This Summer
Golden Road Arts provides free art events for children in Hillsboro and throughout Oregon. We also produce a range of free art lessons to assist parents and teachers in delivering a high-quality art education. Browse our free art lessons or call us at (503) 718-7097.