The Natural Resources Program helps maintain and promote a healthy environment in Wilsonville by providing long term care of local natural resources, such as streams, wetlands, and natural areas, the City is ensuring a sustainable future for the residents of Wilsonville.
Click on each natural area to view a closer image.
A diversity of native habitats can be found within Wilsonville’s park system. In the Willamette Valley, landscapes and plant communities have been influenced by geologic events, climate and cultural history. Glaciations, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and cataclysmic floods have shaped the landscape and created distinct soils and landforms. Native people maintained open pasture through periodic burns and settlers cleared extensive areas for agriculture. Native habitats such as meadows, coniferous forests, mixed deciduous woodlands, riparian corridors and wetlands are all accessible in local parks.
Coffee Lake Wetlands
The Coffee Lake Wetlands is a part of the larger Tonquin Geological area whose landscape was formed during the Missoula Floods some 13,000 to 15,000. As a result of these floodwaters Coffee Lake Wetlands is comprised of unique geological formations such as kolk ponds and basalt hummocks that provide important fish and wildlife habitat.
Graham Oaks Nature Park
Graham Oaks Nature Park, a 250-acre preserved natural area, was purchased by Metro with voter approved natural area funds. Metro and the City of Wilsonville have worked with landscape architects, engineers and interpretive specialists to develop detailed designs for Graham Oaks Nature Park. A proposed multi-use regional Tonquin Trail, will eventually connect Graham Oaks Nature Park to the Willamette River and the cities of Tualatin and Sherwood.
Park at Merryfield
Park at Merryfield includes seven acres of intact mature wetland ash forest. A trail provides access to the park from the adjacent neighborhood and connects to Inza Wood Middle School, Boones Ferry Primary School, and Graham Oaks Nature Park.
Willamette River Water Treatment Plant Park
Nearly 10 acres of natural area, adjacent to the water treatment plant, has been set aside for public use. A trail that connects from the treatment plant and the neighboring housing community winds through the park and terminates at a viewpoint over the Willamette River.
Memorial Park - Forested Area
Memorial Park consists of 126 acres of forested upland habitat. Numerous trails wind through dense forested areas of bigleaf maple, red alder, Oregon ash and grand fir. With frequent viewpoints of the Willamette River and opportunities to observe wildlife; this is an ideal spot to commune with nature within the city.
Memorial Park - Meadow Area
East of the forested area in Memorial Park is an extensive upland meadow area with a diversified landscape. Tall cottonwood trees tower over the Willamette while just to the north is the first Giant Sequoia planted in Wilsonville by Ernest Kolbe, a long time Wilsonville resident and forester who planted most of the older trees in Memorial Park.
Boeckman Creek Crossing Trail
This trail connects the residential neighborhoods to the east of the creek, near Wilsonville High School, with the Courtside neighborhood and Town Center shopping center to the west. This paved, well-maintained path meanders through a forested canyon and is highlighted by a 60’ free span bridge across Boeckman Creek.
Canyon Creek Park
Canyon Creek Park is a community park in northeast Wilsonville. With a picnic shelter, grassy areas, parking, restrooms, and over 6 acres of accessible natural areas the park serves as a recreation destination for eastside employees and residents.