On a recent sunny-rainy-sunny day, circling ospreys greeted visitors to Metro’s Blue Lake Regional Park with friendly, whistling chirps. They were very busy, circling, playing and then diving into Blue Lake, a 64-acre natural lake fed by underground springs. A great blue heron paused on the walk that rims the lake and then lifted into flight, flapping its massive wings just once before heading over the docks, past two laughing girls on a lake-view bench, and on toward the wetland area at the west end of the park.
Though Blue Lake Park is popular for its range of activities, it’s still peaceful. Picnicking is prime here, with many group sites available for reservation on a first-come, first-served basis. Family-friendly fun – ranging from archery to trout angling to softball – offers residents in the Portland metropolitan area inexpensive and safe access to the outdoors, where kids can be active and parents can be lazy (if they want), without having to drive very far. It’s just 20 minutes from downtown Portland.
As the summer season gets underway, Blue Lake is adding more power to its park punch with additions like a new Natural Play Area, made of all-natural materials. This play area is one of several playgrounds throughout the park, including the colorful, action-packed spray ground, adjacent to the swimming beach and free to all park visitors.
Also new this year are the interpretive signs soon to be installed in the park’s Natural Discovery Garden. The garden invites visitors to experience the wonders of nature while learning to garden naturally. Starting this weekend, kids are invited to drop by the garden for sensory explorations and hands-on activities with a garden educator during summer activity times. Visitors can also register for family gardening seminars. The first one is Saturday, June 18.
Blue Lake Regional Park is one of several parks in the region operated by Metro that offers area residents a chance to relax and enjoy the best of what the region has to offer. The kids will soon be out of school. And, believe it or not, the summer season will soon be here. Check out Blue Lake or another Metro park – and get out there! The ospreys and the herons are waiting for you.