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Dirksen Nature Park
1. Address:11130 SW Tiedeman Ave
  Tigard, OR 97223
2. Capacity:100 +
Amenities:
1. Baseball
2. Bicycle Path
3. Drinking Water
4. Education Center
5. Gym Equipment
6. Nature Trail
7. Picnic Shelter
8. Playground
9. Restrooms
10. Scenic Viewpoint
11. Wildlife Viewing
Categories:
1. City Parks

Quick Facts

Dirksen Nature Park map
Hours: Daily from dawn to dusk
Size: 48 acres

Park Description

Park offers a mix of mature forest, wetlands, outside gym equipment, and open space. The area is home to many species of wildlife and serves as an outdoor classroom for environmental education. Field and shelter reservations are available at this park.

Nature Play Areas

The large nature play is designed for ages 5-12 and features:

Multiple log climbers
Secret rock cave
Sloping rock climber
Vertical climbing log with handholds
Carved chair
Living willow tunnel

The small nature play area is designed for toddlers and features beaver habitat, including:

A swimming beaver and a beaver set on a log (fun to climb on)
A beaver lodge with building poles: gather sticks to build your own lodge
Climber logs

Accessibility Notes

Parking

Off-street parking available on SW Tigard Street. Accessible parking to the shelter and playground is approximately 250 yards away.

Play Area

Engineered wood fiber safety surfacing with ramp into playground.

Play Equipment

Nature play design

History

In 2010, the city purchased a 48-acre property near Fowler Middle School. The property is Tigard's second largest park and offers a mix of mature forest, wetlands, and open space. The area is home to turtles, frogs, salamanders, red-tailed hawks, owls and herons.

The park is bordered by Fowler Middle School to the south, Tiedeman Avenue to the east, and Tigard Street to the north. Fanno Creek and its tributary, Summer Creek, flow through the site, which serves as an outdoor classroom for environmental education.

The park was named in honor of former mayor Craig Dirksen who was a proponent for the acquisition of park land and open space.

Learn more about former Mayor Dirksen in this Talking Tigard episode.

Initial improvements (included upgrades to the existing education building, new picnic shelter, restroom, and trails) began in 2015. Long-term plans for park development include street and ball field improvements, additional trails, and natural play areas.

The Park and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) recommended the adoption of the conceptual plan for Dirksen Nature Park (formerly the Summer Creek property) in 2012.