Commonwealth Lake Park (Beaverton)
Commonweath Lake Park is a small gem (20 acres) in the Cedar Hills area of Beaverton that packs a big punch.
Seemingly hidden in the midst of a housing development, it’s off Butner Road with access from Foothills Drive and Huntington Avenue.
First, the lake. It’s man-made and cute as a button! Swimming? No way! Too many water fowl. Fishing? In Beaverton? Why yes! Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District stocks the lake with trout, although in speaking with one fisherman you can also catch perch there. Trout must be a minimum of eight inches long or be released with a park limit of five trout per day (don’t forget your license!).
Multiple docks line the lake, and the rails are made so that even the littlest of potential swimmers can’t get through (a plus with my little adventurer!). The shoreline provides ample space to sit and park a rod and reel as well, with the occasional tree providing shade. Speaking to another fisherman, see that bridge? It’s purported to be the best fishing spot in the lake.
The trail around the lake is a little less than a mile, paved and flat around the lake (there is a decent grade from Foothills Drive to get to the lake), great for strollers and training wheels. Halfway around the lake there is a play structure and open field. Benches are every few yards, interspersed with a picnic table or two. Unfortunately, there is only a port-a-potty and no water fountains. You also have to keep an eye out for goose and duck poop.
With easy access from OR-26 and OR-217, Butner crosses both Cedar Hills Road and Murray Boulevard, both of which have ample coffee shops, supermarkets and restaurants. This is your everyday neighborhood park that just seems to have that little “oomph” that makes it special.
You will find a few of these:
A whole bunch of these:
And a never ending supply of these:
Sally Davidson Parker is a wife, mother, teacher and freelance writer who lives in Beaverton.
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Love this place! We take our kids there all the time. One thing you should know before going is that feeding the ducks and geese is no longer allowed. 🙁 An elderly lady came out and scolded our 12 yr old because we were feeding them stale bread that we bought at the franz outlet that they sell specifically for feeding animals. Bummer. Half the fun of going was letting the kids feed the ducks. Now, it’s a big No no. 🙁
Fond memories of going to the ‘Ducky Pond’ and feeding them stale bread when I was maybe four or five years old. Great to see someone writing about it!