A new park offering a picnic area, trails and wetland viewpoints is taking shape in Troutdale.

The city broke ground last week on College Nature Park, located on the southwest corner of Troutdale Road and Southeast Stark Street east of Mt. Hood Community College.

The park is a 5-acre portion of a 62-acre parcel of forests and wetlands that Metro Regional Government purchased from the college in 2004 for $260,000, using money from a 1995 voter-approved bond, said Rich Faith, director of Community Development.

Troutdale will manage the park.

The new park will have trails, a picnic area and viewpoints of the Beaver Creek wetlands, which flow through the property, Faith said. Troutdale Road will be widened on the west side to allow on-street parking.

Funding for construction is coming from the Troutdale parks improvement fund, an Oregon Parks and Recreation grant and from Troutdale’s share of Metro’s open-space bond funds.

Construction of the new park should be completed by the end of the year.