Haydu Park: 253 Kalama River Road, Kalama WA 98625
Port of Kalama: (360) 673-2325
Directions to Haydu Park:
Take Exit 32 from I-5 and travel east on Kalama River Road for 8/10th of a mile to Norris Pit Road. Haydu Park will be on the right.
History of Haydu Park
With its manicured play fields, tidy buildings and landscaping, Haydu was the first large park built in Cowlitz County in more than a decade. The Port of Kalama, city officials and local coaches hope its multiple sports courts and fields will make it perfect for hosting tournaments.
The park is named after the Haydu family, which previously owned the property and donated $100,000 toward the project. The park has three baseball/softball fields, three soccer/football fields, a horse arena, bathrooms, tennis courts, basketball courts, a concession stand, on-site trailer parking and a 3,600-square-foot expo building. The facility also includes walking trails with access to several thousand feet of Kalama River frontage.
Haydu was built using port revenue, not taxpayer dollars. In December of 2015 (less than a year after opening the park), floods washed out fences, knocked out irrigation systems, ruined the ball fields and covered the $4.5 million park with mud and silt that brimmed over the banks of the Kalama River.
The park has since been beautifully repaired and is the location for several events throughout the year, including the Kalama Fair.
Please note: No dogs are allowed at Haydu Park except for those entered into a fair event.
*The Daily News and other sources contributed to this article. Photo courtesy Port of Kalama.