Willamette Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willamette Park |
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Vegetation, playground, and tennis court, 2010
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Area | 26.49 acres (10.72 ha) |
| Created | 1929 |
| Operated by | Portland Parks & Recreation |
| Status | Open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
Willamette Park is a fun city park in south Portland, Oregon. It covers about 26 acres (11 hectares), which is like 20 football fields! You can find it at Southwest Macadam Avenue and Nebraska Street. The park has lots of cool things to do. There's a place for boats, paths for walking or biking, and picnic spots. It also has restrooms, a special area where dogs can run freely, a playground, a soccer field, and tennis courts.
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What Can You See and Do at Willamette Park?
Willamette Park sits right next to the beautiful Willamette River. From here, you can see Ross Island and its smaller neighbors. These include Hardtack, East, and Toe islands.
Exploring the Willamette Greenway Trail
A path called the Willamette Greenway Trail goes through the park. It's part of Portland's bigger 40-Mile Loop trail system. This trail connects the park to downtown Portland in the north. To the south, it links up with other parks and natural areas. These include Miles Place, Butterfly Park, Stephens Creek, and Powers Marine Park. You can even see the Sellwood Bridge from the park.
Wildlife Watching at the Park
From the north end of Willamette Park, you might spot some amazing birds. Look for great blue heron and bald eagle nests on Ross Island. You can also see osprey and Canada geese nesting on tall towers. These towers are located near Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, across the river.
Purple Martins and Other Birds
Near the boat ramp, you'll find white gourds hanging on a pole. These gourds are special homes for purple martins. Other birds, like sparrows and starlings, don't like these gourds. This helps protect the purple martins and keeps their homes safe. Many other birds visit the park too. You might see gulls, sandpipers, cormorants, kingfishers, and swallows. Beavers also like to visit the area.
The Old Oregon White Oak Tree
At the south end of the park, there's a special plaque. It honors a very large Oregon white oak tree. This tree is one of the biggest along the Willamette Greenway.
Park History and Restoration Efforts
In 2006, the city started a project to improve the park. They began removing plants that were not native to the area. These non-native plants can sometimes harm the local environment. After that, volunteers from a group called Friends of Trees helped out. They planted 250 new trees and shrubs that are native to Oregon. This helps make the park healthier and more natural.
