Touch Grass: Westmoreland Park

The water and ducks can be seen from the boardwalk. Photo credit Adrian Keller Feld.

Touch Grass has featured many local parks, but Westmoreland Park might be the most impressive yet. With many fun small bridges, boardwalks above water, and plenty of space to walk and enjoy nature, the park has all one would need. Covering over 43 acres, the park feels vast with its positioning in a long line, where as one walks the scenery changes from Crystal Springs Creek, to sports fields, to the pond, and back again on various paths snaking across the edge of McLoughlin Blvd. Since its acquisition by the City of Portland in 1927, the park has undergone many different projects that have shaped it into a unique and diverse outdoor space right in Reed’s backyard.

For the hiking inclined, All Trails has information on a one-mile loop through Westmoreland Park with directions and a printable map for reference. This is an easy and quick walk, but it is also good for a regular exercise routine or a simple calm moment. All Trails also gives important accessibility information, saying there is one accessible parking space in the “lot off of Southeast 23rd Avenue at the south end of the trail. It does not appear to be van-accessible with a striped access aisle,” and that the trails are “paved (with railings at bridges) and typically at least 5 feet wide. The estimated grade is gentle (all 3% or less).” There are also many benches throughout the park for resting. There is ample street parking across the length of the park, but where one parks should be considered when walking, as visitors can get very far away. Shorter walks are also possible, with many bridges throughout allowing passage from the thinner surface-street facing part, and the wider McLoughlan facing part.

Conservation has been a recent focus of park operations, with a Restoration Plan introduced in a 2004 master plan. This plan protected Crystal Springs Creek, which “is a tributary of Johnson Creek and is home to fish, river otter, heron, eagles, and frogs,” according to the Portland.gov website. Part of the Restoration Plan included assisting the renaturalization of the park’s wetlands, by removing a duck pond and adding in over 15,000 appropriate native plants. This project was also added in the boardwalk pictured alongside this article. Engineering With Nature: An Atlas, Volume 2 contains an article examining more of this project, which is available online through issue. The park also moved to a more natural playground, with log-based climbing structures and a water table, which are fascinating to see even if one is not a child.

Westmoreland Park is located just a 26-minute walk, a 15-minute Line 19 bus ride, or a 4-minute drive from Reed. The park is open from 5:00am-midnight daily, and includes a “Baseball Field, Softball Field, Soccer Field, Basketball Court, Accessible Restroom, Picnic Table[s], Playground, Nature-Based Play Area, [and] Tennis Court (Outdoor),” according to the Portland.gov website. Dogs are also allowed within the park, but must be leashed at all times. Picnic areas can be reserved for events by calling 503-823-2525 or visiting the Portland picnic reservation page online. To learn more visit its section on the Portland.gov website. So, go out and touch grass in Westmoreland Park!