Hawthorne Park

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7510 SE King Rd, Milwaukie, OR 97222
Hours: Opens half hour before sunrise and closes half hour after sunset
Acres:
1
Amenities: Picnic Facilities, Playground, Benches, Bike Racks, Walking Path

 

 

 

Boardman Wetlands Nature Park

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17908 S.E. Addie St., Jennings Lodge

Boardman Wetlands Nature Park is an urban oasis in the heart of the Jennings Lodge community, providing a calm and serene escape for nature-viewing and recreation.

A 1,500-ft. boardwalk trail winds its way through the wetland with scenic views and overlook areas, allowing visitors to get a closer look at  the diversity of underwater plants and wildlife throughout the park. Boardman Wetlands Nature Park is an ideal location for photography and bird-watching. Be on the lookout for the red-winged blackbird and northwest tree frog. In the spring, you might also catch a glimpse of baby ducklings scurrying about.

The park includes a nature play area, inspired by natural elements for more interactive play and greater connections to nature. An outdoor classroom plaza and hands-on education area with pond access provide opportunities to learn about the ecology of a wetland up-close.

This project is the result of a partnership between NCPRD and Oak Lodge Water Services District. Additional financial support through grants came from Metro and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Learn more about the project here.

Virtual Park Tour

Things to see and do

  • Walk the trail loop and look for a variety of native plants and wildlife, including land and water birds, amphibians and fish.
  • Explore the nature play area for open-ended creativity and imaginative play.
  • Get a closer look at the ecology of a wetland with the hands-on education area.
  • Download the NCPRD Natural Area and Wetland Scavenger Hunt before heading to the park to see what you can find.

Access

The trail, education plaza, playground, and wetland access overlook are all wheelchair accessible. Dogs and other pets are not allowed on the park property, in order to protect sensitive habitat and wildlife.

Visitors are welcomed and encouraged to ride bikes to the park, both to get exercise and to reduce our community’s carbon footprint. The Trolley Trail, which runs through Jennings Lodge, is about 1,200 feet from the park’s entrance off Southeast Addie Street, making it easily accessible. However, bikes are not permitted on the sidewalks and trails in the park to keep other visitors safe and to promote a wildlife-friendly environment.

 

 

Stringfield Family Park

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3614 SE Naef Rd. Oak Grove, OR

Acres: 4.5

Amenities: Walking Trail, Picnic Facilities, Playground, Shelter, Restrooms, Parking

Stringfield Family Park is located in Oak Lodge and sits alongside the multi-use Trolley Trail. This community park offers recreational activities and opportunities to relax in a peaceful setting. An accessible walking path loops around the park, with benches to sit and rest along the way. The park includes natural areas and two bridges with views of a tranquil stream, making it a great location for bird watching and enjoying nature. The playground, restrooms, picnic areas and open lawn area make it a favorite destination for families, including those with young children. The park is beautiful through the changing seasons, with abundance of blooming flowers in the spring and summer, and vibrant displays of colorful leaves in the fall. A pollinator garden is located on the north end of the park, alongside S.E. Naef Rd.

 

 

 

Rivervilla Park

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925 SE Courtney Rd. Oak Grove, OR
Acres: 5
Amenities: Picnic Facilities, Parking, Fishing Dock, Trails, Restrooms

Situated along the Willamette River in Oak Grove, this hidden gem offers direct access to the water for dipping your toes or casting a line. Take a stroll along the path, have a picnic in the park and enjoy the surrounding beauty through each changing season.

 

 

 

Risley Park

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2350 SE Swain Ave. Milwaukie OR

Acres: 5

Amenities: Basketball, Tennis, Walking Trail, Picnic Facilities, Playground, Restrooms, Parking

 

 

Bunnell Park

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2560 SE Pine St. Oak Grove, OR

Acres: 0.75

Amenities: Parking

 

Trolley Trail

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About the Trolley Trail:

Milwaukie/Oak Grove/Jennings Lodge, OR

Acres: 29

VIEW THE MAP

Amenities: Walking Trail, Restrooms, Parking

This 6-mile trail is a community treasure waiting for you to explore on foot or on your bike! It’s a multi-use paved and gravel trail.

The Trolley Trail is the name of the old Portland Traction Company streetcar line right-of-way that stretches between the cities of Milwaukie and Gladstone. North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District (NCPRD) and Metro purchased the right-of-way in 2001 to be developed into a regional multi-use trail using a voter-approved bond measure designed to protect nature and help people enjoy it. The Trolley Trail has been flagged in the region’s long-term plans since the early 1970s. Over the years, community groups and residents have rallied to bring it to life.

The six-mile Trolley Trail connects neighborhoods, schools, parks, retirement communities and business districts between Milwaukie and Gladstone and completes a missing link in Metro’s regional trail system. This bike and pedestrian trail follows the historic streetcar right-of-way that ran in the area from 1893 until 1968.

The idea of developing a trail within this historic right-of-way has been a dream in the community for decades. The trail now connects with existing bike lanes in Milwaukie and Gladstone to complete an essential link in Metro’s regional trails system. Ultimately, the trail will be part of a continuous 20-mile loop connecting Portland, Milwaukie, Gladstone, Oregon City and Gresham.

In October, 2020, a bike repair station was installed along the Trolley Trail in downtown Oak Grove. The repair station includes all the tools necessary to perform basic bike repairs and maintenance. Screwdrivers, Allen wrenches and box wrenches are provided so that cyclists can change a flat tire, adjust brakes and put air in tires. Learn more about the public-private partnership that made this project possible, here.

 

In February of 2023, NCPRD contracted with Alta Planning + Design to develop a safety audit for the Trolley Trail. The goal of this project was to evaluate the safety of the Trolley Trail from the south end of SE Washington Street at Milwaukie Bay Park in Milwaukie to Glen Echo Avenue in Gladstone. They looked at trail conditions and user experience. The report provides key takeaways or observations of safety issues as well as a toolkit of best practices and potential safety improvement options to respond to specific safety issues. Click here to view the Trolley Trail Safety Audit Summary.

Water Tower Park

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UPDATE: Water Tower Park is open again to the community, following repair to cell tower.

9890 SE 40th Ave. Milwaukie, OR

Acres: 0.9

Amenities: Basketball, Picnic Facilities, Playground, Parking

 

 

Stanley Park

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11800 SE Stanley Ave. Milwaukie, OR

Acres: 2

Amenities: Picnic Facilites, Parking

 

Spring Park

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SE Sparrow St at SE 19th Ave. Milwaukie, OR

Hours: Opens half hour before sunrise and closes half hour after sunset
Acres: 6.9
Trail length: 0.6 miles roundtrip
Amenities: Walking Trail, Picnic Facilities, Playground, Limited Street Parking
Accessibility: See more information provided by AccessTrails
Public transit: MAX Orange Line [3/4 mile] and TriMet bus 34

Nestled next to the Willamette River, Spring Park Natural Area is a hidden gem in a quiet residential neighborhood in Milwaukie. Entering the park, you’ll find a small playground, picnic benches and bike racks and art features. A path of compacted crushed rock, boardwalk and overlook area provide visitors access to the surrounding wetlands, without endangering sensitive habitat and wildlife areas.

At the end of the trail is a seasonal land bridge to Elk Rock Island, which provides a rocky passage to the Island when water is low. Water levels may fluctuate and rise depending on the time of year, weather conditions, and changing tides in the Willamette River, cutting off access to the land bridge that leads to and from the Island. Please be aware of changing water levels and proceed with caution. See Willamette River tide times.

Spring Park and Elk Rock Island are open again, following a temporary closure for wildfire restoration and repair. Learn more here.