Nature park and labyrinth in St. Helens ready to be dedicated

The ambitious Blessing Woods Nature Park and Labyrinth, designed as a location to meditate and connect with nature during stressful times, will be officially dedicated at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at Christ Episcopal Church in St. Helens.

Church Vicar Jaime Sanders said the church has completed the initial planting and layout phase of the project.

“The Nature Park is designed to be a place of refreshment for people and habitat for animals,” Sanders said. “There are some existing woods where we have cleared out the blackberries and created a wonderful little sitting circle in the woods.”

The labyrinth should prove to be a big draw at the church, located at 35350 E. Division Road. Sanders said the labyrinth is designed for meditative walking, and is one of few sites of the sort.

“I think it’s the only spiral-shaped labyrinth in the state of Oregon,” Sanders said.

In an earlier interview this year with the Spotlight, Sanders said, “It’s such an ancient symbol that is common in multiple cultures. We wanted a shape that would speak to people of multiple spiritualities.”

In building the nature park and labyrinth, Sanders said the church wanted to use the land in ministry.

“We wanted to use it in a way that would benefit the community,” he said. “A couple of generous donors wanted to make that possible and also to plant trees and improve wildlife habitat.”

The church received a grant from the Episcopal Bishop of Oregon Foundation, who helped the project and matched some private donations.

“It has been a lot of pieces coming together, and I’m hoping that it continues to draw people in,” Sanders said, adding, “We find when people come, and they see what we’re doing in terms of native plantings and things, it inspires them to think about what they can do with their own yards and their land.”

Presiding at the dedication will be the Rt. Rev. Diana Akiyama, who is the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon. The ceremony will highlight surrounding areas, such as the children’s nature play area.

“At each place, there will be a very short scripture reading and a prayer,” Sanders said.

Many people have already enjoyed the nature park and labyrinth.

“It has been a place people have enjoyed being,” she said. “I have seen people drive up in their cars, stop and walk the labyrinth. We’ve seen a couple children playing in the children’s play area. This has been the rainy and cold season, so as the weather improves, we’ll see even more use of it.”

The National Wildlife Federation, a national conservation nonprofit, recently certified Blessing Woods as an official wildlife habitat .