Dairy Creek Park Habitat & Water Quality Improvements

A portion of Dairy Creek Park is currently closed for habitat and water quality improvements.  The overall purpose of the project is to repair and upgrade an old stormwater facility.  The project will stabilize and correct erosion and the area will be replanted with native vegetation.  Further, the project includes installation of a large underground filtration vault so that storm water will be filtered before being discharged to Dairy Creek.  The result will be improved treatment of storm water and improved water quality in Dairy Creek. For project details, click here.

This work is expected to continue through October, but should not disrupt the primary activity area at Dairy Creek Park, although the north parking area is also closed. 

Hondo Dog Park Improvement Projects

There are currently two imporvement projects underway in the winter use area of Hondo Dog Park:

Lighting Project

In an effort to make the winter area of the dog park more usable into the evening hours during our short Oregon winter days, lighting will be added to the area this fall in time for use this winter season.  Funding for this project has come from fundraising efforts by the Hillsboro Dog Association (www.hillsborodogs.org) including sponsorship sales of the benches in Hondo Dog Park.  Click here for more information.

Winter Area Surface Project

Currently, we are in the process of installing pea gravel over the existing sand surface.  This should be completed by mid-September and will provide a cleaner and drier surface in the winter area for dogs and their owners.

53rd Avenue Community Park

The 53rd Avenue Community Park, located on 43 acres along NE 53rd Avenue north of Baseline Avenue, will be a unique and special community park featuring diverse outdoor park areas and an indoor recreation center. An initial Master Plan project for the park was completed in 2006, after a five month public involvement process.

The 53rd Avenue Sports Fields, artificial turf multi sports fields located on the southeast 10 acre portion of the park, were opened in summer 2008. An adjacent concession and restrooms building was added in spring 2009. Phase two just north of hte sports fields was opened in late winter 2010 and includes a plaza area with fountain, creative playground, tennis courts, basketball courts and additional parking.  Hillsboro Parks & Recreation was awarded a $500,000 grant from the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department (Oregon Lottery funds) to help with construction of this 10 acres of the park. In addition, the Hillsboro Soccer Club committed $10,000 toward the project. A grant of $5,000 from the United States Tennis Association Pacific Northwest Section helped with the construction of the tennis courts.

There is a master plan in pace for the portion of the park on the west side of 53rd Avenue, but construction dates are not finalized at this time. Hillsboro Parks & Recreation is continuing to look for funding opportunities for construction of an indoor recreation center.

For more information on the 53rd Avenue Community Park, please visit this page. Please call 503-681-6120 with any questions.

Bicentennial Park Renovation - completed summer 2010

Bicentennial Park originally opened during the nation's bicentennial year, 1976, with the assistance of the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. Development was continued in 1978 when a soccer field, picnic shelter and playground were added. This 4.4-acre park has recently undergone a major renovation and now has a new restroom, new walkways which offer improved accessibility, and additional playground equipment and landscaping. Funding for these renovations was provided in part by a federal Community Development Block Grant. Join us on Wednesday, September 1 from 6:30-7:30 for a special neighborhood celebration at this newly renovated neighborhood park!

Shute Park Renovation - completed spring 2010

Shute Park, Hillsboro's oldest park, opened in 1906 through a land grant from John Shute, one of the city's most prominent businessmen at that time. The park, located on 10th Avenue between TV Highway and Maple, recently got a face lift. With help from a $55,850 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, donations from the Tualatin Valley Garden Club and Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee, many of the park's most-used areas were improved with new, larger gathering spaces, a fire pit, planters, pathways and better drainage. The playground now features new play equipment, and new benches have been placed within the park so visitors can rest and experience the park.

Rock Creek Trail Extension - Design Option Phase 2009-2010

Work is currently underway on planning for extension of the Rock Creek Trail south from Orchard Park to Wilins Street and also west to Cherry Lane.  This would extend the trail an additional 2/3 mile, and provide better connections to the Quatama Light Rail Station and to adjoining neighborhoods and employment centers.  This planning phase is called a Design Option Analysis, and is intended to consider options and eventually determine a preferred trail route- where the trail woud be located on the ground.  Once a preferred alignmnent is identified, the City cna proceed with final design and engineering leading to construction.

More information, including an FAQ with maps and charts on these options and the planning process is available here.  This project is still at a preliminary stage and work will continue on evaluating the feasibility of these options, including cost estimates, and possible constraints due to environmental factors or utilities.  The information gleaned durning this planning process will help to determine the most viable trail alignment.  The goal is to hae a preferred alignment identified by the end of 2009.

Shute Park Proposed Improvements - LWCF Grant Info

As authorized by the Hillsboro City Council at their March 2, 2010 meeting, the Parks and Recreation Department is applying for a $79,800 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to be used for improvements at Shute Park.  The current proposal is to make improvements at Shute Park, Hillsboro's oldest park dating back to 1906.  This park is one of the busiest parks in Hillsboro, and the proposed projects reflect needs identified in the recently adopted Parks and Trails Master Plan.

If approved, the grant would help fund two implrvements: 

• develop a new 20x30 picnic shelter with connecting ADA walkway, and
• renovate an existing grass parking lot to year round use by replacing the grass with a porous paving surfacing.

For more details on the project, click the links below:

Project description memo

Aerial photo

Schematic of the proposed picnic shelter

Photographs of the project sites

Environmental Screening Form on the project

Previously Completed Projects and Improvements

Hillsboro’s Magnolia Park

The City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department opened Magnolia Park in summer 2008. This park is located between Walker Road & Cornell at NW 192nd Avenue in the Southwest Tanasbourne area, in late July 2008. This neighborhood park was developed with the help of the surrounding neighborhood and includes:

• Playground area water feature (zero-depth, with spray jets)
• Picnic area and shelter
• Open grassy areas and relaxing passive areas
• Gentle walking terrain
• Shady tree grove
• Tennis court
• Basketball half-court

Hillsboro Trader Joes has adopted Magnolia Park through our Adopt-a-Park program. Please call 503-681-6120 with any questions about Magnolia Park.

Bagley Park Renovation

Hillsboro's renovated Bagley Park re-opened in summer 2008! Located on 2nd Avenue between Edison and Jackson Streets, this park originally opened in 1926 as a result of a land donation to the City. Bagley Park is Hillsboro's second oldest park following Shute Park which opened in 1906. Neighbors and residents can now enjoy an improved Bagley Park with a new playground, restroom, and picnic shelter, as well as reconstructed pedestrian walkways and new landscaping. This project was funded in part by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and a an Oregon State Parks Local Government Grant (Oregon Lottery funds).

The Heart of Hillsboro Neighborhood Association and City View Charter School have adopted Bagley park through our Adopt-a-Park program.

Rood Bridge Park Woodland Pond Improvements and the Trepha M. Baron Pavilion

Rood Bridge Park's Woodland Pond re-opened in May 2008 featuring a new waterside pavilion and renovated and improved pond including tranquil rock wateralls, footbridges and pathways. A special dedication to honor the many supporters and donors took place on Saturday, May 17 and was attended by around 80 people.

This wonderful area would not be possible without the help of the community! In addition to the donations listed below, community volunteers helped with hundreds of plantings around the pond's edge. The native plants include an assortment of trees, flowering shrubs, groundcover and wetland plants to frame views ofthe pond and waterfalls, and provide separation between the water’s edge and the pathways. Rhododendrons have also been planted in the landscape bed behind the shelter. Special thanks to the Hillsboro Rotary, Tualatin Valley Garden Club, and Tualatin Valley Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society for their on-going support and volunteer efforts at this special area.

The Woodland Pond project was funded significantly by private donations. Special thanks to the following donors:

Dal Baker Charitable Trust Lloyd & Trepha Baron Hillsboro Community Foundation Hillsboro Rotary Foundation Amy Beaupre Oregon International Airshow Tualatin Valley Garden Club Tualatin Valley Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society Gifts in remembrance of Dick & Florence Lewis Mary Lewis William Ganger Joy Russ Arden & Connie Sheets Carol & David James Mary Ordal & Joe Grillo Merrill & Betty Jean Ludlam J.G. & Gayle Darr Gifts in Memory of Bonnie Jaron Diane Pielow Dick Cavender Dr. Forrest Bump Daral Pearson Aziz & Deborah Elias.

Special thanks also for the volunteer help of many dedicated community groups & citizens. For more information about this project, please call 503-681-6120.