Cedar Mill Park plan taking shape

Option 3 - click to enlarge image

When voters passed the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation (THPRD) Bond Measure in 2008, upgrades to Cedar Mill Park were on the list, with a budget of slightly more than $1 million. Goals for the project include adding sports fields, improving the trail from 107th to Cedar Mill Elementary, adding a preschool-age play area, and improving accessibility. Objectives include keeping some space for the park concert, suggesting a location for a community garden, and retaining as many of the old trees in the park as possible.

The district contracted with Nevue Ngan Associates, a landscape design firm that specializes in park design. They studied existing conditions in the park and developed several options for district staff to analyze. The resulting refined plans were then presented to the neighborhood and to district advisory committees. The first neighborhood meeting was held on June 21 at the school.

Responses from that meeting and from the advisory committees made it clear that the most radical proposal, Option 1, was not popular. That option would have placed a soccer field in the northern area, which would have required extensive grading and 12-foot retaining walls on either end of the field.

Elements of the other options were combined to arrive at Option 3, the preferred option at this point. Another neighborhood meeting to discuss the option is tentatively scheduled for August 7 at Cedar Mill Elementary School starting at 6:30 pm. (Please consult the project web page to confirm the meeting date, time and location).

baseball field option - click to enlarge

Option 3 would relocate the tennis courts to the eastern part of the north section of the park, which would require some grading and a retaining wall, but nothing as extensive as Option 1. A new U-11 soccer field would be built on the relatively flat area where the tennis courts are now. Some grading will be needed for the west end of that area.

Most of the wooded natural trail at the west end of the park will likely remain. An asphalt-paved trail will extend from 107th, past the former Brady property and through the natural area that was acquired in 2007, winding through the park to the school, enabling a safe and pleasant way for kids to get to school and for neighbors to enjoy accessible walking, biking and stroller-pushing.

A small playground for pre-school children would be placed in the grove of old trees, and there may also be a natural play area in the western area. A community garden could be located along a strip just north of Cornell Road.

Talks are underway with the Beaverton School District to share the field north of the school. If an agreement can be reached, THPRD would improve the field to accommodate a baseball field and possibly also a soccer field. The school could use the field during school hours and then it would be available for THPRD to program sports team usage outside school time.

Images of all the options, and more information about this Bond project, are available on the THPRD website under the “2008 Bond Measure” tab. To comment on the project, contact Steve Regner at 503-629-6305 or electronically via THPRD's web contact form.

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