Marina Park
Located on the beautiful Columbia River, 5 miles east of Portland (river mile 121.7), the Port’s Marina Park provides a wonderful view of Mt. Hood and a bird’s-eye view of the launch ramp and boaters out on the Columbia River. You will also find a walking path, bathrooms, picnic tables, and shade trees.
Special Events
Contact the Port Office to reserve the Rose Arbor for your special event. Then, download and complete the use agreement application and return to the Port of Camas-Washougal.
(Reservations are confirmed only with payment of the Use Fee and Cleaning Deposit and a signed License Agreement.)
For questions and scheduling, please contact Jennifer Rilatos: (360) 835-2196 x103
Van Vleet Historical Plaza
This plaza commemorates the Van Vleet Family.
David C. Parker, on whose Donation Land Claim this site is located, platted the town of Parkersville in 1854. When Parker died in 1858, Lewis Van Vleet was appointed the second administrator of Parker's estate, the first having moved. Later Van Vleet bought part of Parker's land, operated Parker's ferry business, and filed a new Parkersville plat on April 18, 1878. Lewis Van Vleet, who established a DLC (Donation Land Claim) in Fern Prairie, was a U.S. Deputy Surveyor and Clark County Representative in the Territorial Senate.
Van Vleet's Daughter, Louisa Van Vleet Spicer Wright , was one of the first women doctors in the state of Washington. She was born in 1862 at her parents' "Oak Grove Farm" in Fern Prairie. In 1885 she graduated from medical school Ann Arbor, Michigan. The land on which this park is located was given to Louisa by her father.
In 1901, Louisa married James W. Wright, a widower. About seven years after Dr. Wright's tragic death in 1913, her son Cecil Van Vleet (born a Spicer) began residing on his mother's property. Between 1929 and 1931, Cecil took legal action to re-establish the Parkersville plat, the original having been destroyed by the 1890 fire in the Clark County Court House. Cecil did not live permanently at Parker's Landing, but he returned in the 1950's to remain until his death in 1977. After three generations of Van Vleets being involved in the property, it was sold in 1968 to the Port of Camas/Washougal with the hopes that it would become a park.
Local history is reflected by the names engraved in the plaza which begin at the eastern end with the very earliest people the Chinook Indians -- followed by explorers, fur traders, and the Michael T. Simmons party who sojourned at this site in late 1844 until the fall of 1845. The foregoing names are followed by the names of those who held Donation Land Claims and Homesites. All who settled East Clark County in 1889 or before are considered East Clark County Pioneers. Many of their descendants are also memorialized in the plaza. In addition, present-day people, businesses, churches, and organizations have been invited to "Make History" by having a brick inscribed with their names and the year of arrival or establishment.
Rose Arbor
The Rose Arbor is located directly behind the Van Vleet Historical Plaza. Here you will find a beautiful covered Rose Arbor full of wonderful flowers and surrounded by manicured grass and near a walking path, restrooms, picnic tables, and shade trees. Located on the beautiful Columbia River, 5 miles east of Portland (river mile 121.7), Marina Park provides a wonderful view of Mt. Hood and the marina.
The Rose Arbor can be scheduled for special events such as weddings, family reunions, receptions, or even a picnic or retreat. Simply complete the License Agreement (provided on the left side of this page) to schedule your special event. You will find more information on availability by calling Jennifer at (360) 835-2196 x103, or email at jennifer@portcw.com. Users must comply with all provisions of the License Agreement.
Quick Fact: On November 1st 1997, the Interpretive Panels in the Kiosk were dedicated. The dedication - which attracted several hundred citizens - was enhanced by the outstanding job done by the U.S. Marines in readying the Park for the ceremony. Come and see the Panels and the Park.
The best part of the Rose Arbor is "The Roses" of course. During the season these beautiful roses bloom to a majestic beauty.