Signs of spring

The following is information about local parks visited by the Post-Record:

Fallen Leaf Lake Park

Location: 2911 N.E. Everett St., Camas

With a total of 55 acres of shoreline, forest and wetlands, this park provides opportunities for hiking, picnicking and wildlife watching. There is a covered picnic shelter with a barbecue grill.

Heritage Park

Location: 303 N.W. Lake Road, Camas

The 5.5-acre park is located alongside Lacamas Lake. It includes a two-lane boat launch, a floating dock, boat and vehicle paved parking, picnic tables, restrooms and a trail along the lake.

Lacamas Park

Location: Everett Street and Lake Road, Camas

This 311-acre scenic park is owned and operated by Clark County. It provides one-quarter mille of paved trails and more than 3.6 miles of unpaved trails. There is also a picnic shelter, restrooms and paved parking.

Washougal River Greenway Trail

Location: Trailheads are located at Northeast Third Avenue and Shepherd Road in Camas, and at Northeast Second Avenue and Yale Street.

This trail provides a mile long paved path which winds around the Washougal River. There are also picnic benches at the Yale Street entrance and park benches at various areas along the trail. Parking is in a gravel lot.

With spring-like weather making an early appearance this year, many local residents are flocking to area parks and trails to play, exercise or simply enjoy the beauty.

Last week, the mercury teetered around the 70 degree mark, and many were out and about. The Post-Record visited Lacamas Park, Heritage Park, Fallen Leaf Park and the Washougal River Greenway Trail to document the signs of spring.

At Fallen Leaf Park in Camas, Glass Doctor co-workers Keith Skaggs and Isaiah Madsen took a break to check out the area.

“We’re just relaxing between work assignments,” said Skaggs. “We’re pretty busy this time of year. We just drove by and thought we would come by.”

Neither had been to the area before.

“I think it is really great,” he said. “It’s a perfect day out.”

At Heritage Park, Kelly Garrett and his 14-month-old son, Paul, were enjoying the playground and expansive grassy area near Lacamas Lake.

“We come out here pretty regularly,” Garrett said, keeping a watchful eye on the toddler. “I love this weather because you can really be out here as long as you want. There are so many great parks in the area. It is nice to have a choice.”

Garrett enjoys coming to Heritage Park because his son can explore without fear of tumbling onto concrete.

“You have the playground, the grass and the trees,” he said. “It’s great.”

Elizabeth Soth and her children William, 3, and Isla, 9 months, also enjoy coming to the park.

“We discovered this on Mother’s Day last year,” she said. “I was pregnant with Isla and walked some of Heritage Trail.”

Since then, the new mom has been back regularly to walk the trail, as well as use the park, with her children.

“I love it here,” she said. “It is so perfect.”