Hamby Park
Encyclopedia
U. J. Hamby Park is a nearly seven acre municipal park in northwest Hillsboro
, Oregon
, United States. Opened in 1990, the park includes nature trails along a small creek as well as a basketball court and grass lawn. The park is named after the longtime Chevrolet
dealership owner, whose family donated the land to the city in 1986. The natural portion of the park includes wetlands and woodlands.
car dealership in Hillsboro and father-in-law of then state legislator Jeannette Hamby
. In May 1989, the federal government gave Hillsboro’s parks department $26,975 to develop a park on the land along Northeast Jackson School Road. The city chose the name Hamby Park at that time and construction began later that year.
Part of the funding for the park came from development fees charged by the city. Construction continued into July 1990, and the park opened later in 1990. Work on the park was not finished when it opened, and additional land was purchased by the city to add to the park. On September 13, 1995, Hillsboro officially dedicated the park in a ceremony featuring mayor Gordon Faber
.
The gazebo at the park was refurbished with a new roof in 2004. In 2007, the park was the first park adopted in the city’s adopt-a-park program, with adoption coming from students of the Miller Education Center
. Students from the school and volunteers from SOLV
worked to remove invasive plant species and spread new barkdust
at the park during a work party in October 2008. The park was one of several parks slated for improvements from a bond put to a vote by the city in November 2008, but the levy failed.
The natural area is to the west of the developed portion and includes a wooded area traversed by a small creek, a tributary of McKay Creek. There are also wetlands, a ravine, and a pond in this section of the park. The area includes several bridges and trails covered with barkdust. Trees in the park include lodgepole pine
s, blue spruce, Pacific yews, Pacific dogwood
s, Western red cedars, old-growth Douglas-fir
, oak, vine maple, and sequoia trees. Other flora include red huckleberry, Oregon grape, pink star flowers, stinging nettles, and other native plants. Birds at the park are Bewick's Wren
s, dark-eyed juncos, song sparrows, black-capped chickadee
s, scrub jays, and ducks among others. Animals include possums, bats, and raccoons. There is a half-mile trail through the natural section that leads to a slough.
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 1990, the park includes nature trails along a small creek as well as a basketball court and grass lawn. The park is named after the longtime Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
dealership owner, whose family donated the land to the city in 1986. The natural portion of the park includes wetlands and woodlands.
History
Eugene Hamby, the son of Ulin J. Hamby, donated three acres to the city of Hillsboro in 1986. U. J. Hamby was the longtime owner of the ChevroletChevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
car dealership in Hillsboro and father-in-law of then state legislator Jeannette Hamby
Jeannette Hamby
Jeannette N. Hamby is an American politician and nurse in Oregon. A native of Minnesota, she worked as an airline attendant, nurse, and educator before entering local politics. A Republican, she served in both chambers of the Oregon Legislature, winning re-election three times to the Oregon State...
. In May 1989, the federal government gave Hillsboro’s parks department $26,975 to develop a park on the land along Northeast Jackson School Road. The city chose the name Hamby Park at that time and construction began later that year.
Part of the funding for the park came from development fees charged by the city. Construction continued into July 1990, and the park opened later in 1990. Work on the park was not finished when it opened, and additional land was purchased by the city to add to the park. On September 13, 1995, Hillsboro officially dedicated the park in a ceremony featuring mayor Gordon Faber
Gordon Faber
Gordon Faber is a former politician and business owner in the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of Pennsylvania, he grew up in Hillsboro, Oregon, where he served on the city’s budget committee and city council before serving two terms as mayor from 1993 to 2001. He served in the military and was a...
.
The gazebo at the park was refurbished with a new roof in 2004. In 2007, the park was the first park adopted in the city’s adopt-a-park program, with adoption coming from students of the Miller Education Center
Miller Education Center
Miller Education Center is an alternative school in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. Part of the Hillsboro School District, it features programs that include two alternative high schools and a middle school. The school currently has three locations in Hillsboro and serves grades 7-12. The school...
. Students from the school and volunteers from SOLV
SOLV
SOLV is an environmental non-profit organization working throughout the U.S. state of Oregon whose mission statement is: "SOLV builds community through volunteer action to preserve this treasure called Oregon"...
worked to remove invasive plant species and spread new barkdust
Barkdust
In agriculture, gardening, and landscaping, barkdust is a form of mulch produced out of chipped or shredded tree bark. Coarser forms of barkdust may be known as bark nuggets...
at the park during a work party in October 2008. The park was one of several parks slated for improvements from a bond put to a vote by the city in November 2008, but the levy failed.
Amenities
Hamby Park sits on 6.7 acres (2.7 ha) and includes both a natural area and a developed park area. The developed portion includes a picnic shelter and tables, a playground, and a basketball court. The picnic area includes a grass lawn, and the entire park has roughly 3000 feet (914.4 m) of paths through the park, with about 1000 feet (304.8 m) of those paved. The park also hosts the parks department’s weekly running club, the Hillsboro Running Club, and is a stop on the annual Tour de Parks bicycle ride in Hillsboro.The natural area is to the west of the developed portion and includes a wooded area traversed by a small creek, a tributary of McKay Creek. There are also wetlands, a ravine, and a pond in this section of the park. The area includes several bridges and trails covered with barkdust. Trees in the park include lodgepole pine
Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta, also known as Shore Pine, is a common tree in western North America. Like all pines, it is evergreen.-Subspecies:...
s, blue spruce, Pacific yews, Pacific dogwood
Pacific Dogwood
The Pacific Dogwood, Cornus nuttallii , is a species of dogwood native to western North America from lowlands of southern British Columbia to mountains of southern California. An inland population occurs in central Idaho. Cultivated examples are found as far north as Haida Gwaii...
s, Western red cedars, old-growth Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
, oak, vine maple, and sequoia trees. Other flora include red huckleberry, Oregon grape, pink star flowers, stinging nettles, and other native plants. Birds at the park are Bewick's Wren
Bewick's Wren
The Bewick's Wren is a wren native to North America. At about 14 cm long, it is grey-brown above, white below, with a long white eyebrow. While similar in appearance to the Carolina Wren, it has a long tail that is tipped in white. The song is loud and melodious, much like the song of other...
s, dark-eyed juncos, song sparrows, black-capped chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee
The Black-capped Chickadee is a small, North American songbird, a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is the state bird of both Maine and Massachusetts in the United States, and the provincial bird of New Brunswick in Canada...
s, scrub jays, and ducks among others. Animals include possums, bats, and raccoons. There is a half-mile trail through the natural section that leads to a slough.
External links
- Hamby Park - Washington County Visitor's Association
- OregonLive