Two major bond-funded projects now complete
The Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District has completed two more major construction projects that will help meet recreational needs in the Beaverton area for years to come.
At Conestoga Middle School in south Beaverton, the district converted the northeast athletic field from natural grass to synthetic turf. Lights have been installed for increased playing time and ADA-accessible features were added. The field is now open for use as programmed and permitted by THPRD’s Sports Department.
The project was made possible by an intergovernmental agreement with the Beaverton School District that emphasizes shared use of facilities and resources. THPRD will be able to use the field after school hours and on weekends.
Just north of the Tualatin Hills Nature Park near 158th Avenue, THPRD has connected the Westside Trail to the Waterhouse Trail, one of the final links in a mostly continuous trail system that will extend 10 miles north-south from the PCC Rock Creek area to Barrows Road (south of Scholls Ferry Road).
The project also included trestle improvements, safety upgrades at the MAX crossing on Merlo Road, and a relocated and improved mid-block crossing on 158th Avenue.
The trail connection, which is now open for public use, was funded by THPRD’s 2008 voter-approved bond measure. The athletic field at Conestoga was funded in part by the bond measure as well as system development charges.
Trails are one of THPRD’s most popular amenities. The Westside Trail draws 120,000 users per year and the Waterhouse Trail attracts more than 80,000.
“Our mission is to continually strive for new ways to meet our community’s recreational needs,” said Doug Menke, THPRD general manager. “These amenities are further proof of that commitment, and we are confident the public will enjoy them for a long time.”
Meanwhile, work continues on two other major projects: a 21.5-acre community park in Aloha and a new one-mile segment of the Westside Trail in the Bethany area. Both are scheduled for completion in the fall of 2017.
The park is being developed at and around Mountain View Middle School through a separate agreement with BSD. Primary features will include side-by-side synthetic turf fields with lights, a “Champions Too” field for athletes of all abilities, and a natural grass baseball field with a multipurpose outfield. Other amenities: a 6,500-square-foot inclusive play area, tennis courts, community garden, shelters, a restroom and concession stand, pathways, an open lawn area and parking.
The Westside Trail project will provide one mile of new trail and boardwalks within the powerline corridor (south of NW Springville Road and east of NW Kaiser Road); a link between the Rock Creek Regional Trail and NW Kaiser Road; and a connection from THPRD’s Hansen Ridge Park in the Bethany area to the Westside Trail.
About THPRD
Formed in 1955, THPRD is the largest special park district in Oregon, spanning 50 square miles and serving about 240,000 residents in the greater Beaverton area. The district provides year-round recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Offerings include thousands of widely diverse classes, 95 park sites with active recreational amenities, nearly 70 miles of trails, eight swim centers, six recreation centers, and about 1,500 acres of natural areas. For more information, visit www.thprd.org or call 503-645-6433.