Kelly Point Park sites at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia River. The land here is quit altered from when Lewis and Clark journeyed by and fail the find the mouth of the Willamette River twice. Fortunately the third time was the charm. Back then this area was made up of four tree coverd island and sand bars. A lighthouse would eventually be built to guide ships coming up the Columbia River the mouth of the Willamette River. A set of worn down pilings are all that is left the lighthouse. In the 70’s the Army Corp of Engineers started on a project to deepen the river to allow large ships to come up the rivers. The dreigings were piled up to fill over the island and rise the area above the flood plan. Much of the Rivergate Industrial area you will drive through to reach Kelly Point park is made of those dreigings and from the Mt. St. Helens eruption. In 1984 Portland Parks acquired the land and formed a park.
My favorite parts of Kelly Point Park – I have never found it crowed, sandy beach to walk on, watching boats and ship that pass by, nice for walking, being next to the water, hidden places and seeing it in the changing seasons. For other is could be to wade in the water (they warn against swimming), have a picnic, throw a ball or a Frisbee, view Mt. Hood, or learn some history.
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