Kelley Point Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kelley Point Park |
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View up the Columbia River from the park, 2008
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Area | 104.16 acres (42.15 ha) |
| Operated by | Portland Parks & Recreation |
| Status | Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily |
Kelley Point Park is a cool city park located in north Portland, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It's a special place because it sits right where two big rivers meet! The Willamette River flows into the Columbia River here.
The park is like the very tip of a land point, with the Columbia River to the north and the Willamette River to the west. A smaller waterway called the Columbia Slough is to the south. This spot is a great place to watch boats and enjoy nature.
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Discovering Kelley Point Park
Kelley Point Park is a fun place to explore. It has lots of different things to see and do. You can find paved and unpaved paths, perfect for walking or biking. There are also picnic tables where you can enjoy a meal with friends or family.
The park is open every day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. It covers about 104 acres, which is a lot of space to explore! The Portland Parks & Recreation Department takes care of the park.
Park History and Naming
The city of Portland bought the land for Kelley Point Park in 1984. Before it was a park, this area was mostly covered with material dug up from the Columbia River. This was done to create land for building shipping terminals.
This area was once part of an island called Pearcy Island. It was named after Nathan Pearcy, who settled there way back in 1850. Over time, the land changed, and it's not really an island anymore.
The very tip of this land didn't have a name until 1926. That's when some people in Portland decided to name it Kelley Point. They wanted to honor a man named Hall Jackson Kelley.
Hall Jackson Kelley lived a long time ago, in the 1800s. He was from New England and was very interested in the Pacific Northwest, especially Oregon. He even visited Oregon in 1834 and tried to start a city right where the rivers meet! Even though his city idea didn't work out, the park is named after him today.
Things to See and Do
Kelley Point Park offers many cool things to do. You can find a special historical site within the park. There's also public art to discover as you walk around.
One of the best spots is the vista point. From here, you can get amazing views of both the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. It's a great place to watch big ships and boats pass by.
If you like to paddle, there's an informal launch area for canoes on the Columbia Slough, near the park entrance. The famous 40-Mile Loop trail, which is great for hiking and biking, also runs right by the park entrance.
Wildlife at the Park
Kelley Point Park is home to many different animals, especially birds. The park has a forest of black cottonwood trees, where you might hear Bewick's wrens singing.
Near the rivers, you can often spot larger birds. Look for Caspian terns, which are big, graceful birds that dive for fish. You might also see osprey, which are powerful fishing hawks. Double-crested cormorants and various types of gulls are also common around the water.
