53rd Avenue Park
Encyclopedia
53rd Avenue Park is a municipal park under development in Hillsboro
, Oregon
, United States. Partially opened in 2008, the park covers 43.5 acres (17.6 ha) along northeast 53rd Avenue in the middle of the city. Currently the park includes two multi-purpose sports fields covered with artificial turf
with other sports amenities and a water fountain
under construction. Plans call for a large indoor recreation center at the park including pools, basketball courts, tennis courts, and exercise facilities to go along with outdoor park items that include children’s play equipment and walking trails. Land for the park was purchased from exercise equipment maker Soloflex
beginning in 2001.
in January 2001 to purchase 21 acres (8.5 ha) owned by the company. The company was asking for $5 million for the land along northeast 53rd Avenue near Intel’s Hawthorn Farm campus. By February the city had purchased the land for a future park. A second parcel was purchased from Soloflex in 2004 and brought the total land at the site to 33 acres (13.4 ha), with a total of $6.7 million paid for the land.
In June 2005, the city agreed to purchase eight more acres from Soloflex that included a 44000 ft2 building for $3.3 million pending a feasibility study
. The city planned to convert the building and the other park land into a recreation complex that would include amenities such as indoor basketball
and tennis courts, workout rooms, and possibly a pool
. The deal was approved in August, and Hillsboro used money from system development fees
to purchase all of the land at the park site.
Planning for the park began in 2006, with the city hoping to begin construction by 2007. Plans called for the park to be developed in phases, with early cost estimates for the first phase at up to $7 million. The plans called for a community park at the site along with an indoor recreation center. The park plans proposed building sports fields, a dog park, tennis and basketball courts, paths, play equipment
, and garden space among other items. The city took input from over 100 residents during the planning process. Total costs for the entire project were estimated at between $44 million and $51 million, with construction to occur in four phases.
Plans for a dog park
at the site were dropped in July 2006 when the city decided to build what became Hondo Dog Park
at a different location. Plans for 53rd Avenue Park were completed by December 2006, but construction did not begin as the city examined how to pay for the park’s construction. Funding for the first phase began to take shape in 2007 when the state gave Hillsboro a $500,000 grant from lottery funds for the initial construction. This phase would cost $4 million and develop 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) at the 41 acres (165,921.3 m²) park with amenities including sports fields, two tennis courts, restrooms, parking, two basketball courts, lighting, and a courtyard that would include a fountain. The Hillsboro Soccer Club also pledged $10,000 towards the project. Construction began that year with the installation of an artificial turf covering to soccer fields.
The city then proposed using a bond to fund nearly $40 million of the project that would go mainly toward building the indoor recreation center at the cite. The first phase of the indoor recreation center would include a soccer field, a pool, basketball courts, a climbing wall, and workout facilities that would open at the end of 2010 if the bond measure was passed by voters. A later expansion was planned to add an Olympic-size swimming pool. In June 2008, the FieldTurf
installation was completed and construction began on restrooms and concession stands at the park, and the next month the fields opened for use.
In July 2008, the city council approved putting a $44.5 million bond measure on the fall ballot, with $39.5 million of those funds earmarked for use at 53rd Avenue Park to build the recreation center. The bond would pay for a 121000 ft2 facility if passed, with plans calling for later expansion to include other items such as racquetball courts, an indoor skatepark
, and an indoor golf area. The bond measure was defeated in November 2008. The concession stands and restrooms were completed in Spring 2009, and construction of the remaining parts of the first phase began. Amenities such as the interactive water fountain, outdoor basketball courts, and parking were scheduled to be completed by the winter of 2009.
In September 2009, the city began looking at the park again to determine how they would proceed with developing the remained of the park including examining how to pay for it and if design changes were needed to reduce the costs. The following month the city solicited ideas for a new name for the park, as the official name had been 53rd Avenue Community Park. Hillsboro parks decided to go with the slightly shorter name of 53rd Avenue Park in January 2010.
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States. Partially opened in 2008, the park covers 43.5 acres (17.6 ha) along northeast 53rd Avenue in the middle of the city. Currently the park includes two multi-purpose sports fields covered with artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
with other sports amenities and a water fountain
Fountain
A fountain is a piece of architecture which pours water into a basin or jets it into the air either to supply drinking water or for decorative or dramatic effect....
under construction. Plans call for a large indoor recreation center at the park including pools, basketball courts, tennis courts, and exercise facilities to go along with outdoor park items that include children’s play equipment and walking trails. Land for the park was purchased from exercise equipment maker Soloflex
Soloflex
Soloflex refers to both the Soloflex exercise machine and to Soloflex, Inc., the company that created and produces it. Instead of pulley, the Soloflex used an elastomer Weightstrap made of heavy-duty rubber to create variable resistance...
beginning in 2001.
History
Hillsboro began negotiating with SoloflexSoloflex
Soloflex refers to both the Soloflex exercise machine and to Soloflex, Inc., the company that created and produces it. Instead of pulley, the Soloflex used an elastomer Weightstrap made of heavy-duty rubber to create variable resistance...
in January 2001 to purchase 21 acres (8.5 ha) owned by the company. The company was asking for $5 million for the land along northeast 53rd Avenue near Intel’s Hawthorn Farm campus. By February the city had purchased the land for a future park. A second parcel was purchased from Soloflex in 2004 and brought the total land at the site to 33 acres (13.4 ha), with a total of $6.7 million paid for the land.
In June 2005, the city agreed to purchase eight more acres from Soloflex that included a 44000 ft2 building for $3.3 million pending a feasibility study
Feasibility study
Feasibility studies aim to objectively and rationally uncover the strengths and weaknesses of the existing business or proposed venture, opportunities and threats as presented by the environment, the resources required to carry through, and ultimately the prospects for success. In its simplest...
. The city planned to convert the building and the other park land into a recreation complex that would include amenities such as indoor basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and tennis courts, workout rooms, and possibly a pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
. The deal was approved in August, and Hillsboro used money from system development fees
Impact fee
An impact fee is a fee that is implemented by a local government on a new or proposed development to help assist or pay for a portion of the costs that the new development may cause with public services to the new development within the United States...
to purchase all of the land at the park site.
Planning for the park began in 2006, with the city hoping to begin construction by 2007. Plans called for the park to be developed in phases, with early cost estimates for the first phase at up to $7 million. The plans called for a community park at the site along with an indoor recreation center. The park plans proposed building sports fields, a dog park, tennis and basketball courts, paths, play equipment
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
, and garden space among other items. The city took input from over 100 residents during the planning process. Total costs for the entire project were estimated at between $44 million and $51 million, with construction to occur in four phases.
Plans for a dog park
Dog park
A dog park is a facility set aside for dogs to exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment under the supervision of their owners...
at the site were dropped in July 2006 when the city decided to build what became Hondo Dog Park
Hondo Dog Park
Hondo Dog Park is a city park in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. Opened in 2007, it is the first dog park in that city. Located on nearly four acres, the park is in the northeast section of Hillsboro adjacent to Hillsboro Stadium. Hondo Dog Park is named after a Hillsboro Police Department K-9...
at a different location. Plans for 53rd Avenue Park were completed by December 2006, but construction did not begin as the city examined how to pay for the park’s construction. Funding for the first phase began to take shape in 2007 when the state gave Hillsboro a $500,000 grant from lottery funds for the initial construction. This phase would cost $4 million and develop 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) at the 41 acres (165,921.3 m²) park with amenities including sports fields, two tennis courts, restrooms, parking, two basketball courts, lighting, and a courtyard that would include a fountain. The Hillsboro Soccer Club also pledged $10,000 towards the project. Construction began that year with the installation of an artificial turf covering to soccer fields.
The city then proposed using a bond to fund nearly $40 million of the project that would go mainly toward building the indoor recreation center at the cite. The first phase of the indoor recreation center would include a soccer field, a pool, basketball courts, a climbing wall, and workout facilities that would open at the end of 2010 if the bond measure was passed by voters. A later expansion was planned to add an Olympic-size swimming pool. In June 2008, the FieldTurf
FieldTurf
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
installation was completed and construction began on restrooms and concession stands at the park, and the next month the fields opened for use.
In July 2008, the city council approved putting a $44.5 million bond measure on the fall ballot, with $39.5 million of those funds earmarked for use at 53rd Avenue Park to build the recreation center. The bond would pay for a 121000 ft2 facility if passed, with plans calling for later expansion to include other items such as racquetball courts, an indoor skatepark
Skatepark
A skatepark is a purpose-built recreational environment made for skateboarding, BMX, aggressive inline skating and scooters. A skatepark may contain half-pipes, quarter pipes, spine transfers, handrails, funboxes, vert ramps, pyramids, banked ramps, full pipes, pools, bowls, snake runs stairsets,...
, and an indoor golf area. The bond measure was defeated in November 2008. The concession stands and restrooms were completed in Spring 2009, and construction of the remaining parts of the first phase began. Amenities such as the interactive water fountain, outdoor basketball courts, and parking were scheduled to be completed by the winter of 2009.
In September 2009, the city began looking at the park again to determine how they would proceed with developing the remained of the park including examining how to pay for it and if design changes were needed to reduce the costs. The following month the city solicited ideas for a new name for the park, as the official name had been 53rd Avenue Community Park. Hillsboro parks decided to go with the slightly shorter name of 53rd Avenue Park in January 2010.