The Mill Ponds in an undated photo.

On Saturday, April 18, Seaside’s Parks Advisory Committee will host “Art in the Parks … Naturally.”

The event is designed to celebrate and raise funds for an ADA-compliant trail in the Seaside Mill Ponds Natural History Park.

The Mill Ponds at the south end of Seaside originated early in the 20th century as rock borrow pits for construction of the Astoria airport; later the ponds became part of a lumber planing and shingle mill operation.

After the mill burned down and the site’s new owner proposed a light industrial park at the site, the North Coast Land Conservancy began exploring the possibility of conserving the ponds, which are connected to Neawanna Creek and provide habitat for a wide range of wildlife, including migrating salmon.

The conservancy acquired the site in 1999 and began extensive wetland restoration efforts. The Mill Ponds are now owned by the city of Seaside and managed for their natural values.

According to Seaside Park Advisory Committee’s chair Nancy Holmes, the 30.4-acre park will be more available to the public through ADA-compliant trails and parking area, allowing people with disabilities to access the trails for the first time. Other features include interpretive public art, historical and nature interpretive signage in a peaceful water setting.

The park is the anchor of the Necanicum Estuary History Park, which goes from the Mill Pond to Neawanna Point at the north end of Seaside.

In addition to a celebration at the Mill Ponds, each of Seaside’s 12 city parks will be open for guided tours, maps and quizzes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Necanicum Watershed Council will be at Broadway Park on the Neawanna Creek.

Committee members will present speakers, an art auction and plein air artists along the proposed trail, a barbecue and live music. The “Plant a Tree” campaign will be launched to combat climate change, as the committee gives 2,020 trees that have been donated to the committee.

“This will be a celebration of our parks,” Holmes said. “Most people don’t know we have 14 parks in town. It’s a big celebration and we hope to do this every year.”