The latest addition to Auburn’s parks system is a gem, enfolding 7 acres of forest, a 2-acre lake lassoed by a quarter-mile gravel trail, and plenty of shade-providing evergreens to chill under when the sun turns beastly.

And at 11 a.m. Nov. 10, the city of Auburn officially dedicates Lewis Lake Nature Park, which carries the name of former Auburn Mayor Peter B. Lewis.

The trailhead to the park, which is surrounded by the West Hill neighborhood of Auburn, is at 899 W St. NW, between South 318th Street and W Street Northwest NW. It leads to an ideal short walk or a weekend picnic suitable for the whole family.

Several spokes from the trail meander to viewpoints on the shore of the lake, where visitors can cast a line and fish, or wade into the lake.

Construction included a picnic table at the southwest corner of the trail and a swinging bench. The Auburn Noon Lions Club built a footbridge over a wetland section of the trail before the city bought the land from 11 West Hill property owners in 2012, who had jointly owned the little lake for generations before they decided to sell.

“I always wanted to have a lake in Auburn,” said Lewis. “The whole idea behind this was to have a path around the lake and have visual access to the lake, because there’s fish in there, and it’s a beautiful spot, then just leave it alone.”

Then Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Daryl Faber called the Lions Club to build a bridge across the wetland, and Lewis, himself a Lion, pitched in to build the little footbridge.

Lewis made it publicly known at his final council meeting in 2013 that he wanted no monuments — no anything — named after him because “monuments are just places where birds leave things.”

But he finally agreed to have his name attached to the park because he was a known fisherman who loved the park.

Visitors should park in the gravel parking lot next to the entrance at 899 W St. NW.