WILLAMETTE
2008
Willamette University Track and Field FACILITIES
Bush’s Pasture Park
Bush’s Pasture Park covers 90.5 acres and is just two blocks from the Willamette University campus. It is a public city park and is highly utilized by the Willamette community and by the citizens of Salem. Professors take their classes to the park to conduct scientific surveys or to perform ecological restoration projects. Students take breaks from studying to exercise in the park or have a picnic. A total of four Willamette sports call the park home. Baseball plays at Spec Keene Stadium, football plays at McCulloch Stadium, and track and field hosts meets at Charles Bowles Track. The cross country teams use the entire park for training and for home meets, including the Charles Bowles Invitational. The bark trail around the perimeter of the park is approximately 1.5 miles, making it a great place for Bearcat runners to complete an easy run or a full workout. Races at Bush’s Pasture Park are ideal for the spectator as well since there are many vantage points to see the action and cheer, as runners move through the fast, beautiful course.
Minto-Brown Island Park Although Willamette University is located in the hear of Salem, Bearcat runners love the fact that it takes just five minutes to hit the trail leading to Minto-Brown Island Park. The Willamette River makes up one of the borders of the park. When winter rains come, the river often overflows its banks and pours out into the park, turning it into an island. The park itself, just about two miles from the track, is the perfect place for long runs and workouts. While many of the 20 miles of paths are paved, a bit of exploration and adventure can lead to the soft surfaces of bark paths that runners crave. This 900-acre park doubles as a Wildlife Refuge, so keep your eyes peeled for great blue herons and beavers. The trails wind through orchards, fields, forests and a dog park. Even when the parking lots are full, Minto-Brown is the place to go for those seeking seclusion. In the front of the park, you’ll find plenty of other runners, walkers and bikers, but once you delve into the deeper trails, it feels like you have the place to yourself!
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