Planning and conservation › Natural areas, parks and trails › Planning future parks › Graham Oaks Nature Park
Mark your calendar for Sept. 18 to celebrate the opening of the region's newest nature park in Wilsonville.
Get the whole household excited about the grand opening of Graham Oaks Nature Park by posting a reminder on your refrigerator. Download the card
Graham Oaks Nature Park will open to the public Sept. 18. Visitors can look forward to miles of trails, wetlands rich with wildlife viewing opportunities, hands-on nature activities for the kids and an oak woodland habitat re-created – literally – from the ground up.
Metro is working with the City of Wilsonville, local schools and neighborhoods and other community partners to plan an exciting celebration. Spread the word to family and friends
Crews are busy finishing trails, signs and visitor amenities at Graham Oaks. Metro and the City of Wilsonville worked with landscape architects, engineers and interpretive specialists to design a beautiful, sustainable park. Visitors will arrive at neighborhood access points or one of several trailheads, including one with parking, restrooms and a picnic shelter. Three miles of trails – featuring the newest section of the regional Tonquin Trail – traverse this 250-acre park. What a great way to explore the variety of habitats: wetlands, confier forests and re-created Oregon white oak woodlands. Don't overlook all the sustainable design features, from a recycled bridge to solar panels on the restroom roof.
Interested in sponsoring the grand opening or helping out as a volunteer? Contact Jenn Marron at 503-813-7586 or jennifer.marron@oregonmetro.gov.
The master plan and natural resources management plan developed by the City of Wilsonville, Metro and the West Linn-Wilsonville school district in 2004 is the framework that guides site development and land management at the future Graham Oaks Nature Park (once known as the Wilsonville Tract). The overall intent of the master plan is to protect existing natural resources and enhance or recover ecological systems while balancing enjoyment and access by the public. The master plan is intended as a reference for public agencies and the community when making both short and long-term decisions for the implementation of improvements, enhancement and restoration of this 250-acre preserved natural area. Graham Oaks Nature Park was purchased by Metro with voter approved natural area funds.
2008 - 2009
Design development and land use review
2009 - 2010
Construction plans finalized and park development begins
September 2010
Construction completed and park opens to public
To view PDF files, download free Adobe Reader. To translate PDF files into text to assist visually-impaired users, visit Access.Adobe.com.
The future Tonquin Trail will offer bicyclists and pedestrians safe, new connections between Wilsonville, Sherwood and Tualatin.
Find out more about the 27 target areas where Metro is acquiring natural areas and trails to safeguard water quality, protect fish and wildlife habitat, and ensure access to nature for future generations.
Learn about Metro's effort to restore oak woodland habitat at the Graham Oaks natural area near Wilsonville. View a video about the project.
Oaks and kolks are two of the unique features found in this valuable wildlife corridor stretching between the Willamette River in Wilsonville and the Tualatin River Wildlife Refuge in Sherwood.
The Metro Council is teaming up with governments, businesses, nonprofits and other nature lovers to create the world’s best network of parks, trails and natural areas.
(http://ci.wilsonville.or.us/)