List of parks and recreation in Lewis County, Washington

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The county parks system in Lewis County, Washington is run by the Lewis County Parks and Recreation Department. The agency also oversees and cooperates with cities, towns, and other municipalities and organizations throughout the county in maintaining historical buildings and spaces, and other recreational areas. As of 2022, the county directly oversees 164.0 acres (66.4 ha) of parks with a department budget of $65,000. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Lewis County is home to natural areas, parks, and other recreational spots under the oversight of several state and federal park systems, including such areas as Rainbow Falls State Park and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Parks

In 2010, the county declared that all parks under its jurisdiction were to be "No Shooting Zones". [1] A proposal was introduced in 2020 that would transfer 180.0 acres (72.8 ha) of Washington state parks land to Lewis County. The undeveloped parcel, known as Skate Creek, is situated alongside the Cowlitz River near Packwood. [4]

County parks were closed during the Covid-19 pandemic and fully reopened by 2023. That year, new playground equipment was installed at Rose, Schafer, and South County Regional parks. Additional plans were introduced that same year to add a course for disc golf and a pickleball court. [5]

NameImageEstablishedLocationSizeDescription
Back Memorial Park1978 Adna - 146 Dieckman Road5.39 acres (2.18 ha)Donated in 1975, the park is named after early Adna settlers, Soren and Kristina Back. [6] The park, adjacent to the high school and the Willapa Hills Trail, offers sports and playground areas, with a 0.25-mile (0.40 km) track. It is co-maintained with the local Lions Club. [2] [3] : 67  [7]
Cowlitz River Public Access Park (Packwood Park)2022 Packwood - 105 Alta Drive4.06 acres (1.64 ha)The park provides access to the Cowlitz River and hosts a nature trail. [2] [8] [3] : 69 
Hopkins Hill Mt. St. Helens Viewpoint1982 Morton - Short RoadAn undeveloped natural area, it provides a southern view of the crater of Mt. St. Helens. [2] [9] [10]
Mineral Lake Swim Area Mineral - 138 Mineral Road N0.13 acres (0.053 ha)Undeveloped, the parcel provides public access to Mineral Lake. [2] [3] : 70 
Rose County Parkearly 1960sAdna/Chehalis - 263 Penning Road21.0 acres (8.5 ha)The park contains a fitness trail and various picnic, playground, and sports amenities. [5] [3] : 71–72  [11] [12]
Schaefer County Park Schaefer County Park 2024.jpg 1976 Centralia - 822 WA State Route 50714.0 acres (5.7 ha)Designed in mind for people with disabilities, [13] the land was once used as a swimming area known as "The Shallows" in the early 20th century. [14] The park is split by the Skookumchuck River and provides trails, river access and fishing, picnic and sports amenities, and a large playground. [2] [12] The county owns undeveloped parcels across from SR 507. [3] : 74–75 
South County Regional Park1996 Toledo - 212 Ray Rd43.0 acres (17.4 ha)Featuring a stocked 17-acre (6.9 ha) pond with 3 fishing piers, the site's other amenities include a beach and swimming area, various spaces for playgrounds, picnicking, and sports activities, as well an asphalt trail around the pond. [2] [3] : 76–77  [12] [15]
Southwest Washington Fairgrounds Park1909 Chehalis - N National Ave78.2 acres (31.6 ha)The park is separated into 5 parcels, including the entirety of the fairgrounds buildings and structures, as well as a senior center. The area contains several campgrounds covering 3.23 acres (1.31 ha) and has 200 RV sites. [3] : 78–80  [5]

Venues

NameImageEstablishedLocationSizeDescription
Claquato Church Claquato Church Nov 2020.jpg 1858Chehalis - 125 Water St0.37 acres (0.15 ha)Maintenance of the grounds and historic church are under the auspices of Lewis County. [3] : 68  [16]
St. Urban Church St. Urban Church, Washington.jpg 1891 Saint Urban - 648 N Military Road1.58 acres (0.64 ha)Owned by the Catholic Diocese, the building, and rentals for events, is maintained by the county. [3] : 73  [16]

Trails

Outside of trails located within county, state, or federal parks, Lewis County features several large trail systems. The Willapa Hills Trail is a rail trail on a decommissioned railroad track that stretches from Chehalis to South Bend, Washington. Centralia's Discovery Trail parallels the Chehalis River, [17] and Chehalis is home to the Airport Levee and Airport Road trails which lie around the Chehalis–Centralia Airport.

Historical markers

The county honors the travels of pioneer Ezra Meeker on the Oregon Trail with several historical markers throughout the region. Markers are located in Centralia, Chehalis, Claquato, and Toledo. [18]

Recreation

The Lewis County Historic Bike Ride is an annual, mid-spring fundraising event that began as a county-held historic celebration in the early 1990s. The ride starts in Mary's Corner and through a variety of course options, participants can travel to several small towns and communities in the county, including Evaline, Salkum, Saint Urban, and Vader, and can bike through Centralia and Chehalis. The route is often used as a warm-up by riders of the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (STP) due to the similarities in elevation gains and topography. [19]

Other parks

National Parks

National parks located partially in Lewis County include Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, both of which are managed by the United States Forest Service (USFS). In addition, the USFS is responsible for numerous creeks and lakes, and campgrounds such as La Wis Wis. [16] : 11–12  The National Park Service (NPS) administers considerable camp sites on national park lands in the county. [16] : 12–13 

Washington state parks

Washington state parks that reside solely in Lewis County include:

The state also oversees several heritage sites including the Jackson House State Park Heritage Site and Matilda N. Jackson State Park Heritage Site, both located in the community of Mary's Corner. The Willapa Hills Trail, a rail trail park that stretches from Lewis County to Pacific County, is under management by the state. [16] : 8–9 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is tasked with maintaining fish stocks in several lakes in the county, and oversees fish hatcheries as well as many natural preserves and spaces. The largest wildlife corridor is the Cowlitz River Area and is composed of several units on land owned by Tacoma Power. The area protects distinct and various riparian, wetland, and woodland habitats. [16] : 9–11  [21] The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages an assortment of recreational areas. [16] : 9–11 

Utility company parks

Separate from direct county oversight, the Lewis County Public Utility District (LCPUD) manages several parks and areas under its jurisdiction in the county. Based on a requirement for its operating license, the LCPUD provides open spaces and buffer zones for environmental protections near its projects, with special attention to vegetation and wildlife management. [22] Several of these sites have been converted into recreational areas and include the Copper Canyon Creek Take-Out Site, Cowlitz Falls Day Use Park, the 110-acre (45 ha) Leonard “Bud” Allen Park (Cowlitz Falls) Campground, Packwood Ballpark, and a boat launch site at Swofford Pond near Swofford, Washington. [16] : 6  [23]

Tacoma Power & Light maintains three parks in the county situated around the Mayfiled-Riffe Lake dam complexes. Listed are Mayfield Lake Park, Mossyrock Park, and Taidnapam Park, [24] and the power company also oversees Swofford Pond. [16] : 6–7 

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis County, Washington</span> County in Washington, United States

Lewis County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 82,149. The county seat is Chehalis, and its largest city is Centralia. Lewis County comprises the Centralia, WA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centralia, Washington</span> City in Washington, United States

Centralia is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. It is located along Interstate 5 near the midpoint between Seattle and Portland, Oregon. The city had a population of 18,183 at the 2020 census. Centralia is twinned with Chehalis, located to the south near the confluence of the Chehalis and Newaukum rivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chehalis, Washington</span> City in Washington, United States

Chehalis is a city in and the county seat of Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,439 at the time of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morton, Washington</span> City in Washington, United States

Morton is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,036 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowlitz River</span> River in Washington, United States

The Cowlitz River is a river in the state of Washington in the United States, a tributary of the Columbia River. Its tributaries drain a large region including the slopes of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount St. Helens.

Randle is a small town in eastern Lewis County, Washington, United States. Randle is located on U.S. Route 12 and is notable as the northeastern access point to the Mount St. Helens Windy Ridge viewpoint, by way of forest service roads that cut through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Packwood, Washington</span> Census-designated place in Washington, United States

Packwood is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located in easternmost Lewis County, Washington, in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the CDP had a population of 319, while the town and surrounding Packwood community had a total population of 1,073.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosmos, Washington</span> Flooded town

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow Falls State Park</span>

Rainbow Falls State Park is a public recreation area on the Chehalis River. It is situated off Washington State Route 6 and is approximately 1.0-mile (1.6 km) east of the town of Dryad, Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mossyrock Dam</span> Dam in Washington state

Mossyrock Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam on the Cowlitz River near Mossyrock in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The reservoir created by the dam is called Riffe Lake. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric production while flood control is a secondary function. The dam is the tallest in Washington state and its hydroelectric power station supplies 40% of Tacoma Power's electricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ike Kinswa State Park</span> State park in Lewis County, Washington, US

Ike Kinswa State Park is a public recreation area on the northern side of Lake Mayfield, located three miles (4.8 km) northwest of Mossyrock in Lewis County, Washington. The state park covers 421 acres (170 ha) that include 46,000 feet (14,000 m) of shoreline mostly along the Tilton River including the point where the Tilton and Cowlitz rivers once merged. The park offers boating, fishing, swimming, waterskiing and windsurfing plus facilities for camping, hiking, and mountain biking, It is managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaquest State Park</span>

Seaquest State Park is a public recreation area located on the western flank of Silver Lake in Cowlitz County, Washington. The 505-acre (204 ha) state park is home to the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center, which offers displays on the Mount St. Helens volcanic eruption of 1980. Mount St. Helens itself is 30 miles (48 km) east of the park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chehalis–Centralia Airport</span> Airport in Chehalis, Washington

Chehalis–Centralia Airport is a city-owned public use airport located in Chehalis, a city in Lewis County, Washington. The airport lies one mile (1.6 km) west of the town.

Cora was a former farming community and is a locale in Lewis County, Washington, United States. Cora is located off U.S. Route 12, next to the Cowlitz River between the towns of Randle and Packwood.

Swofford, also known as Swofford Valley, is an unincorporated community in central Lewis County, in the U.S. state of Washington. The town sits on the south shore of Riffe Lake, approximately 4.0 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Mossyrock.

Parks and recreation in Chehalis, Washington is administered by the Chehalis Parks and Recreation Department. Trails that connect Chehalis with locations beyond the city limits are maintained in conjunction with other local jurisdictions, state government agencies, and/or local non-profit groups and volunteers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stan Hedwall Park</span> Park in Chehalis, Washington

Stan Hedwall Park is the largest park in Chehalis, Washington at 204-acres. It is located west of I-5, and southeast of Lintott-Alexander Park and the beginning trailhead for the Willapa Hills Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willapa Hills Trail</span> State park and trail in Washington State, USA

The Willapa Hills Trail is a 56.0-mile (90.1 km) intercounty rail trail in the U.S. state of Washington that is part of the Willapa Hills State Park. Following an east–west route alongside State Route 6, the tract links Chehalis and South Bend, traveling through or near several small towns and parks along the way. Overseen by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, local cities and towns often maintain areas of the trail within their jurisdictions. The trail is built upon a decommissioned railroad track.

Parks and recreation in Centralia, Washington is administered by the Centralia Parks and Recreation Department (CPRD). The agency oversees a variety of sites, including natural areas, community recreation facilities, and city parks, classified as either neighborhood or community. The department also oversees several single-purpose sites in the city and partners with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on maintenance and improvements to several areas, including Hayes and Plummer lakes. Centralia hosts privately owned parks and there are some trails under volunteer oversight.

Harmony is an unincorporated town in Lewis County, Washington. The community is located near the junction of the Cowlitz River and Mayfield Lake, and is situated off Route 122, north of Mossyrock.

References

  1. 1 2 Allen, Marqise (March 23, 2010). "Lewis County Parks Get 'No Shooting Zone' Designation". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Parks & Venues". Lewis County Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Lewis County Parks, Recreation & Open Space (PROS) Plan" (PDF). Lewis County (Washington) Government. May 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  4. ↑ Rosane, Eric (January 26, 2022). "Deal Would Transfer 180 Acres of State Park Land to Lewis County". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 Sexton, Owen (June 7, 2023). "Lewis County Continues Efforts to Improve Parks; Disc Golf Course and Pickleball Courts Planned". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Athletic park may be developed". The Daily Chronicle. October 3, 1975. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  7. ↑ Olson, Erik (April 24, 2006). "Adna man does his part to keep park grass short". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  8. ↑ Vander Stoep, Isabel (June 8, 2022). "Lewis County Soft Opens Cowlitz River Public Access Park". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  9. ↑ Fund, Edna (August 27, 2007). "River, Roads and Field Are Deadly in 2002". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  10. ↑ Rose, Buddy (November 26, 2004). "Mount St. Helens difficult to view in winter". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  11. ↑ "All-Day Tour Made By County Planners". The Daily Chronicle. September 18, 1963. p. 10. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 "County parks scattered through region". The Chronicle. May 26, 1994. p. 22. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Schaefer Park funds approved". The Daily Chronicle. June 18, 1975. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Pioneer couple dedicate donated park". The Daily Chronicle. May 24, 1976. p. 5. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Mossyrock firm to handle project at new park site". The Chronicle. March 14, 1994. p. A3. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Lewis County 2022 PROS - Appendix" (PDF). Lewis County (Washington) Government. May 2022. p. 1. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  17. ↑ Rose, Buddy (September 15, 2006). "Watershed festival is Sept. 23". The Chronicle. p. C3. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  18. ↑ The Chronicle Staff (May 22, 2006). "Roadside sights bring history alive". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  19. ↑ Zylstra, Matthew (April 29, 2023). "Annual Lewis County Historic Bike Ride Returns". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  20. 1 2 The Chronicle editorial staff (April 14, 2006). "Maintaining parks already developed should have priority". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Cowlitz Wildlife Area". Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  22. ↑ "LCPUD - Cowlitz Falls Project". Lewis County PUD. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  23. ↑ "LCPUD - Recreation". Lewis County PUD. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  24. ↑ The Chronicle staff (December 14, 2001). "Tacoma Power readies for ownership, operation of Mayfield Lake Park". The Chronicle. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
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