Chehalis provides 4 times the minimal, satisfactory levels for park acreage for a community similar to that of the city's population.

In 1898, an opinion piece in the town newspaper, The Chehalis Bee, coupled with a request from the city council for landowners to donate parcels for recreation purposes, helped to start a community parks program.

The Chehalis Parks Department received $100,000 in funding from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) in late 2023.

There were plans to create a trail connecting the Port of Chehalis to Stan Hedwall Park and nearby tourist locations in the 2000s, but despite a small feasibility study, the project did not proceed.

[14][15][16] The trail is mixed paved-gravel built atop a levee and loops for 3.5 miles (5.6 km) around the Chehalis-Centralia Airport and Twin City Town Center.

[19] The mixed-use paved trail is 1.4 miles (2.3 km) and runs parallel to Interstate 5 to the east, with farmland and close views of the Chehalis River to the west.

Completed in 2014, the south trailhead links with the Airport Levee Trail and continues north, passing over Salzer Creek and into Centralia, officially terminating at the Twin Transit Mellen Street station.

[14][20] Future plans include building ramps to an existing pedestrian portion of the I-5 bridge over the Skookumchuck River which would link the trail to Fort Borst Park and other recreational areas in Centralia.

[15] At 56 miles (90 km), the intercounty trail is part of the Willapa Hills State Park and stretches from Chehalis to South Bend, Washington.

[23] The trail is under the maintenance auspices of the Washington State Park System and is open for non-motorized activities year round to hikers, bicyclists, and horse riding.

[26] It was located near the northern city limits on National Avenue and was split by the connecting road and railroad tracks leading to Centralia.

Funding to purchase the land and make improvements was collected by band performances, including the presentations of minstrel shows.

[27][28] In late 1905, a portion of the park was purchased for use as a foundry and machine shop and the pavilion was enclosed and utilized as part of the iron works plant.

The park was sold in November 1911 to the Liederkranz society, a local German social organization, and the property converted into a mixed-use theater and dance hall.

Begun by a local resident, Kyle Wheeler, in response and opposition to the billboard as well as to the rise in hate speech and crimes towards the LGBTQ population, it started when he erected a sign in the fall of 2020 that stated, "Lewis County Welcomes Everyone".

[56] Logged in 1993, the proceeds of the timber helped fund projects for other parks in Chehalis, notably Penny Playground.

[55] An east side park was first discussed in 1905, with funds and plans to be decided at a later date after initial landscaping was begun.

[58] Officially started in 1906 with a $500 fund, the park occupied a triangular area uphill of the St. Helens Hotel in the downtown district.

[59] In late 1907, the city park board announced plans to seed the grounds for a lawn and to plant trees around the perimeter, but funding had not yet been collected.

[63] Within two months, the Theodore Roosevelt Highway Association commended the Rice family for the accommodations provided at the auto park.

[66] Later that year the Rice family, feeling ready for retirement, sold the park which had begun to be more of a business than recreation area.

A public divorce in 1937 showed evidence of a transfer of ownership of the Rice Auto Park, and its business amenities, to his wife when they were first married.

As of 2023[update], the Lewis County PUD and the Chehalis Community Renaissance Team led project had not been formally adopted.

[77] It has hosted various charity fundraisers,[78] competitions and playoffs for local high school golf teams, and the Lewis County Amateur Championship.