Parks and recreation in Chehalis, Washington

The trail is mixed paved-gravel built atop a levee and loops for 3.5 miles (5.6 km) around the Chehalis-Centralia Airport and Twin City Town Center.[11] Built in large part by community efforts and $300,000 in funding from TransAlta, the trail was first available for use in 2010.[12] The trail provides views of the Riverside Golf Course, airport, and farmland, with views of the Chehalis River.[13]

The mixed-use paved trail is 1.4 miles (2.3 km) and runs parallel to Interstate 5 to the east, with farmland and close views of the Chehalis River to the west. Completed in 2014, the south trailhead links with the Airport Levee Trail and continues north, passing over Salzer Creek and into Centralia, officially terminating at the Twin Transit Mellen Street station.[8][14] Future plans include building ramps to an existing pedestrian portion of the I-5 bridge over the Skookumchuck River which would link the trail to Fort Borst Park and other recreational areas in Centralia.[9]

At 56 miles (90 km), the intercounty trail is part of the Willapa Hills State Park and stretches from Chehalis to South Bend, Washington. It is built over a decommissioned railroad.[15] The trail journeys near or thru such Lewis County towns as Adna, Claquato, Ceres, Doty, and McCormick, while passing by the ghost town of Walville. A spur allows users to traverse thru Rainbow Falls State Park near Dryad.[16] Mostly complete within Lewis County, with a mix of pavement and compact gravel, the trail is considered unimproved for large stretches in Pacific County.[17] The trail is under the maintenance auspices of the Washington State Park System and is open for non-motorized activities year round to hikers, bicyclists, and horse riding.[18][19]

The Chehalis Municipal Rose Garden was a test garden for the commercial viability of certain rose species and was located near the present day site of the Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Library. The area was created in 1934[20] and held annual gardening events and competitions, but the garden was removed during the demolition of the previous library in 2007. The rose bushes were transplanted to Henderson Park but did not thrive.[21][22]

In 1902, the 4.5-acre (1.8 ha) park was bestowed to Chehalis by Horatio J. (H.J.) Duffy[23] for $1. Once named "Scenery Park",[24] the area was never officially listed as a park by the city and only referred to as an "unimproved park".[25]

Duffy Park is located on the hillside, south-southeast of McFadden Park, and there are no signs or trail markers.[26] Logged in 1993, the proceeds of the timber helped fund projects for other parks in Chehalis, notably Penny Playground. A local Boy Scouts troop replanted the area with hopes to use it as a learning forest but the effort did not materialize.[25] The city attempted to consider the area surplus in 2005, following up with an attempt in 2006 to pursue the construction of a reservoir on the property; the endeavors were unsuccessful.[27] The city continues to provide general maintenance to the park.[25]

Begun in 1906 with a $500 fund, the park occupied a triangular area near the St. Helens Hotel in the downtown district.[28] Issues with the grade and road improvements would plague the completion of the project.[29] Never completed, the space would be overtaken in 1910 for the building of the Chehalis Carnegie library.[30]