Milwaukie Bay Park, and Kellogg Creek Park Rules!

The title is kind of a joke. I am not sure where we were, but we liked it there.

It started simply enough with us leaving Enchanté Choclatier via Monroe Street, and wondering what would happen if we went straight instead of turning onto McLoughlin Blvd. A map showed what comes next as the Trolley Trail. That sounded intriguing.

https://ncprd.com/parks/trolley-trail 

Now, if you just do keep going straight on Monroe, you do not end up with any good parking options. We tried that, and then we tried going the other way, and eventually we turned into what should be Milwaukie Bay Park, though we did not see any signs saying that.

https://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/parkssustainability/milwaukie-bay-riverfront-park

 

The most obvious sign was for the Kellogg Water Resources Recovery Facility, and while that is the building and not the trail ways, and its presence definitely has some influence on the park. 

It is obvious that a lot of the design and planting is set up to facilitate water runoff and good drainage, which is an excellent reason to watch your step when moving between parking areas. Sometimes there is unexpected depth.

We also noticed this sign. It was not out, but it was ready because sometimes it may be needed.

This park does have recreation, but that is not its only purpose.

The recreation is nice. We saw people on bikes, scooters, and skateboards, as well as one person carrying a kayak, and several humans and dogs on foot. It seems like roller blades and paddle boards could also fit in well. Also, there's no reason you couldn't bring a picnic basket or a frisbee.

I liked the look of this old set of steps into the water, but there was also a modern boat ramp.

That is a reminder that the parking spaces were generally very long, the better to accommodate boat trailers. Because of this, the parking lot can fill up quickly, especially on good boating days. If you are biking the trail, it may be easiest to come by MAX. You can do so from the SE Park Avenue Light Rail Station, on the Orange Line.

We noticed many people stopping and looking down from the pedestrian bridge. Checking it out on our way out, we discovered the sluice, no doubt also associated with the water treatment and overflow.

It was interesting, and we enjoyed our time there, but where was there? Nothing said "Milwaukie Bay Park.

This was a contender for "Riverfront Park", but that seems pretty non-specific and part of something that goes on for miles. Then we saw this sign:

Not having seen "Milwaukie Bay Park" on the map the first time, we took this sign as definitive. Here were the Rules for Kellogg Creek Park, therefore, Kellogg Creek Park was where we were.

Logical, but apparently wrong. The map and the parks department both seem to defer to the Milwaukie Bay, which is apparently where Kellogg Creek gets treated on its way into the Willamette River.

Maybe that sign was just a vote of confidence. Kellogg Creek Park may not officially exist, but it rules!