Bagley Park
Encyclopedia
Bagley Park is a two-acre municipal park in downtown Hillsboro
, Oregon
, United States. Opened in 1926, the park covers a half-block at northeast Second Avenue and Jackson Street north of the Washington County Courthouse
. After a major renovation project ending in 2008, the park includes a picnic shelter
, a playground, restrooms, and several sports facilities.
judge George R. Bagley
sold part of his land to the city for a park
at the intersection of northeast Second and Jackson streets in the early 1920s. After paying Bagley $1, the city built a half-block park on the site in 1926. This was Hillsboro’s second city park after Shute Park
. The park was dedicated to Bagley in the early 1930s and had a baseball diamond.
In 1949, donations paid for the addition of playground equipment at the park. Funds were raised through a variety of means, including a ten-act circus from the American Legion
staged at Shute Park's pavilion in May 1949. Also that year, voters approved a tax levy to provide for city residents to use school district facilities and fund a summer program at Bagley Park.
Hillsboro’s Active 20-30 Club announced plans to refurbish the park in May 1985. The project was to be paid for in part through a newspaper drive. In 1986, the club began the refurbishment project that lasted three years. The group replaced the jungle gym, built a fence, installed a basketball court, built a sidewalk through the park, and cut down diseased trees. They also paid the city to add sidewalks around Bagley. In all, in excess of $25,000 and 1,000 hours of work were expended on the improvements. For a time the park was the starting point for the annual Lil Spooks Parade. The parade was also a costume contest held around Halloween
and sponsored by the Active 20-30 Club, and continued until the late 1990s at Bagley.
In 1996, during zoning changes to increase population density in downtown brought about due to the construction of the Westside light rail
, the city protected the area facing the park from increased densities. Bagley was closed by the city for four months starting in August 2007 for an overhaul of the facilities. This started a two-year, $400,000 project to repair and improve the park, with approximately $266,000 of the work paid for by the federal government. On September 17, 2008, the park was re-dedicated after improvements to the restrooms, play equipment, and the addition of a picnic shelter among other projects. The park has also hosted Easter egg hunts in the past.
and one block north of the Zula Linklater House
. Facilities at the park include a ADA compliant restroom, sidewalks, a picnic shelter, and play equipment for children featuring seesaws, slides, a merry-go-round and others. There is also a basketball court and softball field. Natural features at the park include cottonwood trees as well as three large redwood trees, landscaping, and grass lawns.
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. Opened in 1926, the park covers a half-block at northeast Second Avenue and Jackson Street north of the Washington County Courthouse
Washington County Courthouse (Oregon)
The Washington County Courthouse in Hillsboro, Oregon is the courthouse for Washington County, Oregon, in the United States. Washington County was established in 1843 and the first government building was finished in 1852. The current courthouse was built in 1928 with an addition and renovations to...
. After a major renovation project ending in 2008, the park includes a picnic shelter
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
, a playground, restrooms, and several sports facilities.
History
County circuit courtOregon circuit courts
Oregon's circuit courts are general jurisdiction trial courts of the U.S. state of Oregon. These courts hear civil and criminal court cases.The state has 27 circuit court districts, most of which correspond to the boundaries of the Oregon's 36 counties...
judge George R. Bagley
George R. Bagley
George Robert Bagley was an American attorney and jurist in the state of Oregon. A native of Ohio, he was raised in Washington County, Oregon, where he practiced law and served as a circuit court judge for nearly 25 years...
sold part of his land to the city for a park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
at the intersection of northeast Second and Jackson streets in the early 1920s. After paying Bagley $1, the city built a half-block park on the site in 1926. This was Hillsboro’s second city park after Shute Park
Shute Park (Oregon)
Shute Park is a municipal park in the city of Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. Acquired in 1906, the park is the oldest park in the city. Located at southeast Tenth and Maple streets along Tualatin Valley Highway, Shute Park includes an aquatic center, a branch of the Hillsboro Public Library,...
. The park was dedicated to Bagley in the early 1930s and had a baseball diamond.
In 1949, donations paid for the addition of playground equipment at the park. Funds were raised through a variety of means, including a ten-act circus from the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
staged at Shute Park's pavilion in May 1949. Also that year, voters approved a tax levy to provide for city residents to use school district facilities and fund a summer program at Bagley Park.
Hillsboro’s Active 20-30 Club announced plans to refurbish the park in May 1985. The project was to be paid for in part through a newspaper drive. In 1986, the club began the refurbishment project that lasted three years. The group replaced the jungle gym, built a fence, installed a basketball court, built a sidewalk through the park, and cut down diseased trees. They also paid the city to add sidewalks around Bagley. In all, in excess of $25,000 and 1,000 hours of work were expended on the improvements. For a time the park was the starting point for the annual Lil Spooks Parade. The parade was also a costume contest held around Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
and sponsored by the Active 20-30 Club, and continued until the late 1990s at Bagley.
In 1996, during zoning changes to increase population density in downtown brought about due to the construction of the Westside light rail
MAX Blue Line
The MAX Blue Line is a 33 mile light rail line in the MAX Light Rail system in the Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon. Operated by TriMet, the line runs between Hillsboro and Gresham, via downtown Portland...
, the city protected the area facing the park from increased densities. Bagley was closed by the city for four months starting in August 2007 for an overhaul of the facilities. This started a two-year, $400,000 project to repair and improve the park, with approximately $266,000 of the work paid for by the federal government. On September 17, 2008, the park was re-dedicated after improvements to the restrooms, play equipment, and the addition of a picnic shelter among other projects. The park has also hosted Easter egg hunts in the past.
Amenities
Bagley is a half-block neighborhood park covering two acres in downtown Hillsboro. The park stretches along Second Avenue between Jackson and Edison streets two blocks north of the Washington County CourthouseWashington County Courthouse (Oregon)
The Washington County Courthouse in Hillsboro, Oregon is the courthouse for Washington County, Oregon, in the United States. Washington County was established in 1843 and the first government building was finished in 1852. The current courthouse was built in 1928 with an addition and renovations to...
and one block north of the Zula Linklater House
Zula Linklater House
The Zula Linklater House is a two-story office building on Second Avenue in downtown Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. Completed in 1923, the Mediterranean style structure is built of concrete, wood, and stucco. Originally constructed for Zula Warren Linklater as a home, it was renovated and turned...
. Facilities at the park include a ADA compliant restroom, sidewalks, a picnic shelter, and play equipment for children featuring seesaws, slides, a merry-go-round and others. There is also a basketball court and softball field. Natural features at the park include cottonwood trees as well as three large redwood trees, landscaping, and grass lawns.