Capitol Highway corridor
The neighborhood's small commercial presence and through-route run along Capitol Highway, connecting it to Hillsdale and Multnomah Village.
MAPLEWOOD · PORTLAND
5 spots to discover in this neighborhood 3,600 residents · 1.2 sq mi
“Creek corridors, wetland trails, and the forest fringe of SW Portland”
LIVE ACTIVITY
NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY
“Creek corridors, wetland trails, and the forest fringe of SW Portland”
“Creek corridors, wetland trails, and the forest fringe of SW Portland”
— Maplewood, Portland
About
Maplewood sits in the western tier of Southwest Portland's residential belt, bounded by SW 45th Ave to the east and the Beaverton city limits to the west. The neighborhood is knit together less by a commercial main street than by its natural systems: Woods Creek and Vermont Creek — both tributaries of Fanno Creek and ultimately the Tualatin River — wind through the neighborhood, creating a network of natural corridors that the community has actively shaped into trail connections.
April Hill Park (opened 1963) is Maplewood's defining park, featuring athletic fields, a wetland boardwalk trail, and both paved and unpaved walking paths through native habitat. Nearby, the nearly 90-acre Gabriel Park provides community garden, skate park, sports fields, and the SW Community Center — all within easy walking distance for Maplewood residents. Marquam Nature Park begins at the base of the West Hills just northeast of the neighborhood.
The Maplewood Neighborhood Association holds an annual meeting with elections on the second Thursday of March and maintains a community coffee-shop meeting culture that keeps civic participation accessible. Residents benefit from the Fred Meyer and New Seasons grocery cluster on SW 45th and Vermont at the neighborhood's eastern edge, shared with the adjacent Hayhurst neighborhood.
Boundaries: Bordered by the Beaverton city limits to the west, SW 45th Ave to the east, SW Vermont St to the north, and SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy to the south. Adjacent to Hayhurst, Bridlemile, and the unincorporated Garden Home area of Washington County.
The Vibe
Maplewood is green, residential, and low-key, the kind of southwest neighborhood where the canopy is dense and the streets feel tucked away. It draws families and longtime residents who value quiet surroundings with easy access to nearby shopping districts.
The overall feel is settled and unhurried, defined more by trees and houses than by commerce.
History
Maplewood lies in southwest Portland along the Capitol Highway corridor, a residential district that grew through the middle decades of the twentieth century on the wooded slopes between Hillsdale and Multnomah Village. Its name reflects the leafy, tree-lined character that has long defined the area.
Like much of southwest Portland, Maplewood developed gradually and informally, with homes filling in along winding streets shaped by the hilly terrain. A small commercial cluster along Capitol Highway and the neighborhood's elementary school gave the area a modest local anchor.
Today Maplewood remains a quiet, primarily residential neighborhood, prized for its greenery, its calm streets, and its convenient position between Hillsdale, Multnomah Village, and the southwest suburbs.
Character
The neighborhood's small commercial presence and through-route run along Capitol Highway, connecting it to Hillsdale and Multnomah Village.
Dense tree cover and hilly terrain give Maplewood a green, sheltered character throughout its residential lanes.
Landmarks
SW 56th Ave & SW Huber St
Neighborhood park (est. 1963) with athletic fields, wetland boardwalk walking trail, and mixed paved/unpaved paths through native habitat.
SW 45th Ave & SW Vermont St
89-acre regional park with skate park, community garden and orchard, two dog off-leash areas, sports courts, and the SW Community Center with indoor pool.
Vermont Creek through Maplewood
Seasonal stream and natural corridor — one of two Tualatin River tributaries that traverse the neighborhood and support wildlife habitat.
Washington County border near Beaverton
Small neighborhood park at the Beaverton boundary, serving as the western recreational anchor for Maplewood residents.
Getting Around
K-5 Portland Public Schools serving the Maplewood neighborhood.
Real Estate
A residential neighborhood of single-family homes on wooded, often sloping lots, with a mix of mid-century and later construction.
Showing 1–5 of 5 businesses in Maplewood
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