Traffic Gardens

Traffic Gardens are places that provide children and families a fun space to learn rules of the road away from street traffic. During the COVID-19 pandemic they also provide a no-contact play destination for families.

Each playground looks like a small version of the surrounding neighborhood’s streets. There are travel lanes, crosswalks, stop signs, and places to visit like libraries or parks. They are great for scooters, bicycles, wheelchairs or feet. We invite you and your family to be creative in how you use them!

These temporary play places are in paved areas – often a school parking lot or underutilized paved areas close to a school, library, or park.

Traffic Playgrounds that have been installed in Central Oregon

Madras Traffic Garden
97 SE 6th St, Madras, OR 97741
Installed Fall 2021

Madras/Jefferson County Library Traffic Garden
134 SE E St, Madras, OR 97741
Installed Summer 2021

Pine Ridge Elementary School Traffic Garden
19840 Hollygrape St, Bend, Or 97702
Installed Spring 2021

Healy Heights Apartments Traffic Garden
1900 NE Bear Creek Rd, Bend, OR 97701
Installed Fall 2020

Traffic playground activity ideas

“Neighborhood” Scavenger Hunt: Pick different locations around the traffic playground and use proper rules of the road to get there
Practice bike hand signals (see below for how-to’s)
Right of way game: choose who will be a pedestrian, emergency vehicle or regular vehicle and follow the rules of the road accordingly (everyone yields for emergency vehicles, regular vehicles yields to pedestrians). Changeup who gets to be which role.
Make believe — just have fun!
Download these additional resources: Traffic Playground Activity Book (Spanish), Traffic Playground Activity Book (English), Traffic Playground Flyer (Spanish), Traffic Playground Flyer (English),

Traffic safety tips

For bicycles and scooters:

Always ride on the right side of the road
Look for people in the crosswalk and let them cross before you
Stop at the stop signs; look left, right and left again before going
Practice using hand signals to show which way you’re going (see image at right for hand signal instructions)

For people walking: