George Rogers Park — Attraction in Lake Oswego

Wonderful park with a good mix of sports fields for soccer and baseball, playgrounds, the picnic area and a wonderful shoreline along the Willamette River. The remnants of the old iron smelter from back when Lake Oswego was known as the "Pittsburgh of the West" are here. There are lots of historical plaques and signs in the area around the iron smelter, which tell you the history of the area as well as showing you historical photos. The halfway down to the river is nice. There's a steep set of stairs near the lower restrooms, and at the other end of the lower grass area there's also a ramp that goes down in a zigzag pattern as well as steps. Those and just above where Oswego Creek comes into the Willamette River. There's Creek and the Willamette River to Old River Drive. You can turn around here and go back to the park or continue walking on Old River Drive (which is fairly popular to do)

The playground up top is nice and kid friendly, and the sports filled up top are popular for soccer and baseball. There are restrooms between the playground, sports fields and tennis courts. Picnic area is just below the playground between the upper part and the lower part, and has a nice covered section.

There is parking download near the iron smelter, next to the picnic area and then up top next to the sports fields. Parking on the other side of the park is along the road. Overall, this is a nice well-kept park that is quite popular and...

Low-key happiness, well kept. Greenery. A few grills. A few picnic tables. River access and river views. Bathrooms, in season.

Plus history! The first iron foundry west of the Rockies happened here. Not Seattle, not San Francisco, etc: here. There's a contextually excellent set of panels that explain this, at least as experienced by European-Americans at the dawn of the industrial age upon the Oregon Territory. There's even some mention of non-European experiences, which were mostly the opposite of "low-key happiness."

Up the hill, a well-tended playground and some pickleball courts. Would you like to play tennis there? Too bad. The pickleballers seized the tennis courts circa 2019, plus or minus. (Beware! Make no sudden movements around pickleballers. They are rabid. Polite but rabid.)

Still farther uphill, there's a broad grassy field, some of it marked off for soccer, baseball, and the like. On one of the poles overlooking the field, there's an osprey nest that's been occupied for at least ten years running. Easiest birdwatching ever.

Parking is not abundant but it seems about right to keep the space from being...

2 or 1 star rating for June - August when the park is OVERRUN with people trying to get to the narrow small “beach”. Too many people in too small of a space. See photos.

NOT ENOUGH PARKING. There are only 21 parking spaces down by the river and 2 of those are for handicap and another 2 for 15-minute drop off of pick up. There’s no place to turn around and other parking is up a steep hill. Yet tons of people descend on the park. Hard to find places to park in the neighborhood and tickets given for parking in no parking areas. Plus you’ll need to carry your paddle board quite a ways to the river and then back up the hill. Hard to find parking near the playground. And upper parking lot is full of people coming for the sports fields. Be forewarned.

LO POLICE TICKET. They are out in force ticketing (which a cost up to $120). Park Rangers and police ticket $145 for dogs off leash.

There is one bathroom at the lower park and no showers. Park is shut down by the city at 10. No overnight parking.

Off season,...