Graham Oaks Nature Park

When I heard that a brand new nature park was opening in Wilsonville, I definitely wanted to check it out. Graham Oaks Nature Park turned out to be interesting in a way I hadn't expected.  Wilsonville recently got a chance to decide what would be the best possible use for this former farmland, which must have been a difficult civic problem.  The site is next to a middle school, and surprisingly one of the proposals was to build a prison there.  Happily they settled on a nature park.  Then they got to work trying to make the best possible start to it that they could.

Snowberries are among the many shrubs planted in large numbers.

Initially, I was quite disappointed.  If you are looking for a place to go walk in the woods, I think this would be your best choice only if you live nearby.  There are some wooded areas bordering a creek in a steep ravine which appear to have been selectively logged, and some swampy areas that also must have proven difficult areas to make into farmland.  But much of the park recently consisted of flat fields, and you will have to wait a while for nature to come back in full force.  This serves as a reminder of what is lost when trees are clearcut.  While much of the nature park is newly planted with a grid of native trees and shrubs, they take their time to grow, and the ordered method of their planting is at odds with the random loveliness of an undisturbed forest.  

However, the park has many winding trails that are perfect for biking, running, or pushing a stroller.  Lovely sculptures and shelters have been placed throughout the park, designed to be beautiful and to be as ecologically friendly as possible. And it inspires many questions.  How long will it take for this nature park to fulfill its potential?  Kids can have many opportunities to witness the magic of a seed sprouting and growing into a garden plant that lives out its entire life cycle within a few seasons.  Here is a chance for them to witness something else, the slow and steady restoration of an ecosystem.