Graham Oaks Nature Park in Wilsonville
Build a bee box, take a guided walk on a nature trail, complete a scavenger hunt, see a Native American basket weaving demonstration and enjoy free pie at Metro's Graham Oaks Nature Park in Wilsonville on July 11.
The free event, which takes place from noon to 5 p.m., is part of Metro's efforts to get to know communities around Metro parks and to get the word out about Metro's properties.
"It's a priority to take time to get in touch with those that live around our sites. Some of them may not even know we own the site," said Justin Patterson, director of Metro's Parks and roperty Stewardship Program. "The event is an opportunity for us to reconnect with our neighbors around this park and let them know what we do and learn about the park."
Colleen Nichols, president of the parent teacher association at Boones Ferry Primary School, said she visits Graham Oaks Nature Park with her three children ages all the time. But that's because she lives near the park and her children's primary school is adjacent to the park.
"I think the event will bring more people out to Graham Oaks," Nichols said. "It's not your typical park with a playground, but people who come to the event might learn that there is so much to do at Graham Oaks."
Nichols, along with other parent volunteers, will be selling pizza and cold refreshments at the event to raise money for the school's enrichment programs.
There will also be a DJ playing near the food, a chance to check out Metro's new edition of the Bike There! map, an opportunity to join Oakquest and a bee box assembly area.
SMART, the Wilsonville-based transit service, will be at the event passing out bike and walking maps, doing trip planning and providing prizes for the first 100 visitors who walk, bike or ride transit to the party.
"We just love Graham Oaks so much for so many reasons," said Jen Massa Smith, program manager at SMART. "Immediately when Metro opened the park, we started promoting it as a wonderful place to walk or ride your bike. This program sounds really awesome and super-creative and it should be something the community will really enjoy."
The Park Day at Graham Oaks is part of a larger Metro effort to highlight parks with similar events.
"We chose Graham Oaks Nature Park because it's in the southern part of the region," said Ellen Wyoming, Metro's engagement coordinator for parks & nature. "While we are opening new parks with the benefit of the 2013 levy, we want to connect with more people in this part of the region at places we’ve already opened. We want to find meaningful ways to connect with community members at Graham Oaks and help ensure that people know they can enjoy it with their friends and family, and also let us know what is a benefit to their community and a service that we can provide. ."
Wyoming said the event is designed to showcase how special Graham Oaks is.
"We’d love to see more people spending time at that park. It's a beautiful place and it is great to have more people connected to it."