Bush's Pasture Park — Attraction in Salem

Ive said it before and I'll say it again, everyday is totally different. However I did have a bad experience last time when I went to my favorite tree right by the street thinking and that it was a safe place, but to my surprise when i just happen to catch movement under the tree, who's branches drop to the ground almost. Naturally, I'm looking for the little critters I love so much, and it wasn't a critter. Well... Not of the 4 legged kind, someone was sitting under the tree shooting some kind of dope as I saw the syringe in his arm. So parents please keep your kids on the paths and playgrounds and make sure you supervise bathroom trips. That's the first time I've seen anything like that there and I hope it is the last. That is not what that beautiful park is for and I resent it. But please just don't let your kids play by trees with low hanging branches. Make sure you can see the area good before you explore it with children. The playgrounds are awesome though and away from the area that I saw the man ruining the enjoyment of my beautiful park. That is so wrong and I resent it. But all in all this park is a must see from the green house, to the rose gardens to the green house and all the wild life that rests or lives there. Ive seen rabbits and wild turkeys . It's a top quality life for small wildlife and flower gardens even a cat. Everything they need to thrive grows abundantly. It's well maintained and cared for. I have so many fond memories of family and celebrations of life we've had there, and of course we don't get together only for that reason. It's nice no matter what the outside occasion. I'm really hoping the gentleman under the tree reads this and knows we're aware of him. He did apologize lol ! Wow huh ! For what it's worth ! I really think he wasn't sorry at all, or he wouldn't have been there doing what he's doing . He knew children were playing in the park . Please don't be discouraged from going to a magical park because of one incident, just simply be cautious. In the daytime you're pretty safe. I bet it comes alive at night just because of it's...

The park is well maintained, and quite clean compared to other parks in town, though there are a few people living in hammocks near the Eastern parking lot on Mission.

It's pretty big for a city park, with quite a bit going on. There are a couple of small playgrounds - one geared to smaller kids with swings, a little play house, and various spinning toys including a nice merry-go-round. There's a pretty nice trail around the perimeter of the park that winds past Bush House and the rose garden, the picnic area to the Southwest, the pay fields to the South, and then through the little forested area. There's a stadium there that's used by Willamette University, and some other local sports events like the Awesome 3000, and a steep concrete track that was build for soapbox derbies, but I don't know if those are still held. It's connected up to the paths/trails in the park and I mostly see it being used by walkers, or the occasional person on a scooter/bike/skates.

The Bush House is open for tours, but sadly I've never actually been inside so I don't know what they offer.

I don't know if Deepwood mansion is technically part of the park, but it's right next to it, and takes up a sizable chunk of the Northeast corner of the park area, with some more formal gardens and a greenhouse you can visit.

It's not uncommon to see photographers taking pictures of people here in the Fall when the...

This is a large and nice park. there are several parking lots of different sizes on different sides of the park. I parked in a main park near the art gallery and historic house. there are two playgtounds, walking trails (both other and unpathed), bathrooms, a stadium in the center of the park, and a rose garden. the art gallery is free to pursue and opens at noon, so does the historic house/museum. I didn't check out the museum this trip, but the grounds are free to walk around and it's a great location for a picnic. there are several picnic tables throughout the park and there are lots of trees for shade, but also great areas of field for kids who want to run around or play some field games. It seems well kept up in general and is a pleasantly tidy park. the playground near the art gallery is smaller and is geared towards younger kids and seems designed to be accommodating of kids and people with special needs too. the second playground had a taller structure and seemed better suited for bigger or very rambunctious kids. The two kids I had with me enjoyed playing at...