Hogan Butte Nature Park, Gresham's 'Crown Jewel', To Open Sept. 23

GRESHAM, OR — Following 25 years of dedicated work, the city of Gresham will welcome residents and visitors from across the Portland metro region to the grand opening of Hogan Butte Nature Park next Saturday, Sept. 23.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., enjoy activities, food, and entertainment on top of an extinct volcano in the Boring Lava Field, which is just half an hour from downtown Portland and mere minutes from Interstate-84, Gresham officials said. Covering 46 acres of Gresham's natural area, Hogan Butte Nature Park is expected to become one of Gresham's premier visitor destinations.

"Hogan Butte Nature Park will quickly become Gresham's crown jewel," Mayor Shane Bemis said in a statement. "I am so proud to open this amenity for our residents to take in its sweeping views of every nearby mountain, the Columbia River Gorge and the city of Gresham."

Bemis isn't wrong: From Hogan Butte, visitors can get a breathtaking eyeful of Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge to the east, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier to the north, and Mt. Adams to the northeast — and what's more, visiting taxpayers from the Gresham area paid to get it.

According to city officials, the park was purchased over the course of 25 years, beginning with a 1990 city bond measure and later two Metro bonds.

Visitors can enjoy this park today thanks to considerable effort from Gresham citizens, the city, and many community partners such as Metro, the Trust for Public Lands, the U.S. Forest Service and the Buttes Conservancy, who all advocated for the conservation of Hogan Butte lands over the years. Special thanks to our funding partners Metro and Oregon State Parks, who helped build the park.

A paved, ADA-accessible half-mile interpretive loop trail allows visitors to safely wander the forest up to Hogan Butte's summit, where they can take in the views and even enjoy an outdoor picnic with friends and family.

Family-friendly activities during the celebration will include a bird demonstration provided by the Audubon Society, a scavenger hunt, and an activity table to create a memorable keepsake, as well as self-guided tours of the nature park.

Public parking will reportedly be closed during the event, as parking in the area is quite limited, but the city will offer a free shuttle service from Springwater Trail High School, 1440 S.E. Fleming Ave., straight to the park. The ride will take roughly five minutes, with each shuttle departing every 15 minutes beginning at 10:30 a.m.

More information on the event or the park, visit the city's Hogan Butte Nature Park website.

Image via RTCA NPS, Flickr