Cascades Gateway City Park

went here because I saw some good reviews that it wasn’t as bad…. it’s pretty bad. Garbage everywhere . Dog park is basically a dry garbage filled desert. Other side of the park was closed and tons of homeless camps/ broken down cars. What a bummer.

This park is not one I would go to alone. I come here with a group every weekend. There are homeless all over the park. Normally this wouldn't bother me but a lot of the homeless in this area seem to suffer from some sort of mental disorder that has them randomly burst out in anger and yell. I don't let my son out of my sight when we are here. We only continue to come to this park to enjoy the group we are part of. It has many large areas. Great for large gatherings. Two of these fields are near a playground. A great place to let the kids run around, if the whole park didn't have a sketchy feel to it. This park feels like it wants to be better quality. The playground looks safe and mostly updated. There is a covered area with a lot of tables and benches. There are horseshoe pits. As previously mentioned there is a full playground as well.

Had fun bringing our pet ducks to the pond. They visited with their wild cousins. We enjoyed feeding the geese and ducks. Our ducks shared some of their duck feed with them.

Has one bathroom and several port-a-potties. A lot of homeless people in the area but I didn't see any illegal activities. The good is you can fish and feed geese and ducks. Playground area seems well maintained. Also has a disc golf course.

This park has seemingly become a go to place for folks living in broken campers. Grown men roam around in their bikes, trash is everywhere, couples screaming at each other in the background...

Awesome park. Not to much car access because city had to block roads due to homeless. They have a dog park, playground, disk golf, fishing, boating( no motors), bathroom.

Pretty run down over the last few years. Disc golf course is fair and has good teepads and hole variety. Baskets are terrible. Steady wind shifts create a good challenge. Homeless sleeping in woods off some fairways

It's not kept up very well and your signs of do not feed the animals is ignored. Finally opened for disk golf but as with all parks here it won't be long before the homeless converge on it again. The state is perfect for shuffling homeless around, out of site out of mind!

The city is not doing its part to take care of the parks and places that we once loved to go fishing and have picnics. This place now is a homeless graveyard with a bunch of RVs and cars on cement blocks. I would recommend the city close this park down or act on this homeless camp that has been horrid junk and dumping their belongings or stolen stuff here.

I have been coming to this park since 1985, I love it.. I like the way there is a pond as well as a creek for lounging in. There are many wonderful picnic areas available as well as group picnic areas available for reservations. It is also nice that the homeless living in their cars are not bothered there at night as long as they keep clean and safe.

Great place for picnics or barbecues with family or groups. There is a very nice enclosed dog area for multiple people. The playground equipment is limited, but there is lots of room for kids to run around. The lake is usually well stocked with little fish for people who have a hard time getting out of town to fish. There is also a decent disc golf course here.

Cascade Gateway Park in Salem, Oregon, is an absolute hidden jewel for adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts alike. Nestled within its picturesque landscape lies the captivating Walter Wirth Lake, a serene oasis that beckons visitors to explore its tranquil waters and lush surroundings. The park offers an abundance of activities to indulge in, from peaceful strolls along the lakeside trails to invigorating bike rides that wind through the scenic pathways. Walter Wirth Lake itself is a peaceful retreat, perfect for fishing, kayaking, or simply basking in the beauty of the water's reflection. With well-maintained facilities, family-friendly picnic areas, and a sense of seclusion despite being conveniently located, Cascade Gateway Park embodies the essence of an off-the-beaten-path adventure waiting to be discovered. Whether you're seeking a serene escape or an active outdoor outing, this park holds the promise of unforgettable moments and endless exploration. Playground Small but newer Restrooms They have plenty of porta-potties on site, but the brick-and-mortar bathrooms are still boarded up ever since the incident. Dog-friendliness Dogs love it here. They often smile and play as if to say "Woof I'm so woof woof happy!" Picnic area Get ready to put on the spread as this is a great picnic area for Thanksgiving, barbecuing, dinner, lunches, brunches, breakfast, you name it.

Ok the park isn't that great but we use the fenced in dog park often and we love it. Our dog has made a few friends. There's also a smaller fenced area and a larger fenced area together

Great fenced in area for the dogs...but that's it. There is no water station or anything to get them water. It's a very basic dog area with nothing but a table. No other dogs here either. Sort of see why now...oh and finally found bathrooms...they are disgusting. This park is beautiful but in no way is it kept up. What a waste :-/

It is a good safe place for my kids to go feed the ducks..

Quiet place although dirty, there are areas where garbage abounds. I wish everyone on our visits could bring a bag and pick up some trash to clean up the place.

Homeless have destroyed this park sadly, I love the fenced in dog park, but the gates are all broken and there's always trash and cigarette butts in the dirt inside the dog area. The parking area is trashed. The water is gross. I don't go past the dog park, so I have no comment on the playground. It used to be nice, but haven't been back by it in years 0:12 0:09

This park is great, it still has a lot of trash everywhere from the homeless, and it would be nice if the county could clean some of it up, but it has a vibe similar to minto brown park. Also thought I should mention, on the left side coming from the entrance, there’s a playground and some buildings, the trails on that side do have homeless people on it still Playground Playground has graffiti all over it, but it does have functioning swings, and a mini play area Restrooms Wouldn’t trust them. Dog-friendliness Not too many people or dogs (on the left side), so we were able to bring our dogs we’re currently training. Some of the homeless people do have off leashes dogs, but as long as you’re far enough away, they won’t even look at you

I use to take my dog to this park before the City turned it over to the homeless during Covid. They decimated this park, they cut down trees and burn them. They threw shopping carts and all kinds of garbage in the water. They defecated everywhere, drug paraphernalia all over the ground. I can’t imagine how toxic that water is how toxic the ground is with all the fuel they burned on the ground, burning trees, gasoline, raw fuels, they even had propane tanks exploding over there. All the animals are gone. They may have cleaned up the surface, but I would never trust taking my dog to this park with all the bacteria, the germs, the giardia no way! The City of Salem robbed us..again

This is a beautiful park tucked away in Salem. Lots of trees, plenty of picnic tables and covered picnic areas. Great place for the kids to play. Bathrooms were kept clean as well as the park as a whole. The workers do a good job and police patrol it often which makes it a safe place. Lots of area for your pets.