New Nature Play Area Now Open at Memorial Park

October 27, 2021 — Memorial Park’s nature play area — the first play area of its kind in Wilsonville — is now open to the public.  The City’s most unique playground is a 12,000-square-foot natural wonderland that sparks imaginative play among children, providing a natural setting in which they can build, imagine, explore and create.

Wilsonville’s newest park amenity is located down the road from the Memorial Park River Shelter, set at the edge of the mature forest that runs parallel to the Willamette River.

“We are proud and excited to open a new park play area that we believe the entire community will really love and appreciate,” Parks Supervisor Dustin Schull said. “This nature play area provides a new opportunity for the community to connect and interact with nature in a unique and imaginative way.”

Logs, sculptures, sticks, boulders, a small cabin and other natural elements are configured throughout the nature play area's five distinct play areas. From concept to completion, the site took more than three years to create.  The City is celebrating its completion with a public open house on Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 10 am.

First identified as a priority in the 2015 Memorial Park Master Plan, Wilsonville’s Nature Play Area was conceptualized and designed by Lead Park Maintenance Specialist Tommy Reeder, and built entirely by Parks staff.  Design and construction were informed by comprehensive research and visits to other metro-area nature play sites.

Logs and wood chips salvaged from February’s ice storm are among the recycled materials used during construction, which was substantially funded by a $30,000 grant from the Wilsonville-Metro Community Enhancement Program.

The Parks team contributed 400+ labor hours, completing all design and construction of the nature play area-in house. By doing so, they completed the project at less than half the cost of similar nature play areas in the region.

“The design was really focused on nature as the main play element, and not just putting a playground in the woods,” Reeder said. “The end result turned out even better than I had envisioned.”

Nature play provides a relaxed, playful atmosphere that stimulates children’s imagination and improves their intellectual, physical and emotional development.  

For more information, contact Dustin Schull, Parks Supervisor, 503-570-1544 or dschull@ci.wilsonville.or.us

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