August 2019 – Park News – Cedar Mill News

New section of the Westside Linear Trail completed
by Lauretta Young

Grand Opening celebration Wednesday, August 28, 3 pm

The master plan for the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District has included a vision to create more outdoor walking, running, cycling, and nature access for years. This latest completed section of the trail will be connected to other sections to create miles of outdoor recreation.

This particular trail segment can be accessed from many of the surrounding neighborhoods by foot or bike. If one lives further away there are several places to park your car, such as Hansen Ridge playground and other access points.

As you can see from the accompanying photos, this portion of the trail system is a series of elevated wooden bridges over extensive wetlands. Given the vegetation, the large number of trees, and the expanse of water and plants, it creates a haven in the city. The car noise fades away to be replaced with songs of Red Winged Blackbirds and Common Yellowthroats singing in the cattails. The blooming wildflowers, including the very fragrant wild rose, are a delight along the path.

There is plenty of room on the wide, paved trail for multiple uses, including dog walking (leashed of course), smaller children on bikes learning to ride safely without fear of cars, bigger “kids” on bikes maneuvering around easily, and walkers and runners of all ages.

This addition will encourage more walking and getting outside to enjoy the plants, the trees, the birds and the peacefulness of these natural areas. So get out and listen, look, and breathe deeply.

From the THPRD website: “The one-mile long, 10-foot wide segment of shared-use trail connects the Rock Creek Regional Trail at its north end to Kaiser Road at its south end. The trail was constructed almost entirely within the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) power line corridor, and includes a connection to Hansen Ridge Park as well as connections to adjacent neighborhoods and improved access to Kaiser Woods Natural Area, a 28-acre site that includes wetland and forested natural areas ideal for bird and wildlife watching. The Rock Creek Trail follows Springville Creek, which meanders west before joining the main stem of Rock Creek, just west of Bethany Lake.

Recent trail improvements include over 400 feet of raised wooden boardwalks through Bronson Creek wetlands, and offer trail users unique opportunities for nature and wildlife viewing. Trail improvements north of 147th Ave to the Rock Creek Trail were completed and opened in winter 2017-18. Trail improvements south of 147th Ave to Kaiser Road and Hansen Ridge Park were completed in May 2019. THPRD began constructing Segment 18 of the Westside Regional Trail in summer 2016, marking the first step to completing the north-south regional trail extension north of US Highway 26.

Everyone is invited to celebrate at a public grand opening planned for Wednesday, August 28. Details will be posted on the trail and on the project web page in the coming weeks. Project updates and background can be viewed on the project web page.

For information on Lauretta Young’s bird watching tours: call 503-645-4149.

More information about the vision for an eventual 25-mile long trail extending from The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge all the way to the Willamette River is on the THPRD website.

Bonny Slope Trail Project

Improvements to the trail in the eastern segment of The Bluffs Park are under construction and the contractor is making good progress. The main emphasis of the project is to construct a six-foot-wide asphalt pathway that will connect NW 117th Dr. to the Bonny Slope Elementary School. When completed, the pathway will provide a safe, year-round route to the school as well as improved neighborhood connectivity.

The project will also include a secondary gravel trail section, a retaining wall, a bench, and signage. The project is currently scheduled to be completed by the end of August.

Cedar Hills Park reopening soon!

Many of the big trees were saved. This oak shades a picnic table near the playground

Construction on the park and related public improvements is progressing ahead of schedule. The public street improvements to Cedar Hills Boulevard are complete and the new signal at Huntington Avenue was activated in early January 2019. Site grading work for the park is complete and site improvements will continue through summer 2019.

The multi-purpose athletic field, multi-use sport court, sand volleyball courts, community garden, and public restrooms have recently been completed. The contractor is currently installing the group picnic shelter, bocce courts, splash pad, and are finalizing site landscaping. When completed, the park redevelopment will provide better access to recreation opportunities for the community.

The park will remain closed for public safety throughout the construction period and will re-open upon completion anticipated in September 2019. THPRD will host a grand opening for the park—the date is still being finalized. We are working closely with the Cedar Hills Recreation Center staff planning a fun Halloween-inspired event in October. More information will be coming soon as plans are finalized.

Looking across the artificial turf multi-sport field toward the new William Walker Elementary School

Updates on the park can be found on the project web page.

Community Visioning

Share your vision for the future of THPRD!

Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District (THPRD) is beginning a Community Visioning process to better serve the diverse and expanding interests of those who value our services, parks, recreation areas, and

natural places. Staff and volunteers have been gathering input at various events this summer, but you can also provide your feedback at the online Open House.

New Community Leaders Join THPRD Board

The newest members of the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District Board of Directors were sworn in at the July 23 board meeting. The occasion marked a milestone in THPRD’s 64-year history! The park district that was founded by a female community activist, Elsie Stuhr, for the first time has a board of directors comprised entirely of female leaders.

To honor the occasion, board members chose area elected female leaders to participate in the ceremony. The board was joined by Lynn Peterson, Metro Council President; Becky Tymchuk, Beaverton School Board Chair; Lacey Beaty, Beaverton City Council President; and Felicita Monteblanco, THPRD President; who all helped swear in the new members.

New board members sworn in:

Wendy Kroger joined the board in 2018. She was appointed to the THPRD Board in 2018 and was elected in 2019 to a complete term. A long-time THPRD volunteer, she has served in the past on advisory committees for trails and oversight of the 2008 bond measure. She has previously served on the Beaverton and Salem Planning Commissions, the Salem Environmental Commission, the Salem-Keizer Urban Watershed Council, and more. Wendy has a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Oregon.

Ashley Hartmeier-Prigg was born and raised in Washington County. She and her family are long-time THPRD patrons. She considers THPRD a big part of her active life, enjoying the parks and trails with her husband and rescued terriers. Ashley has served on the THPRD Budget Committee. Ashley holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and law degree from Willamette University College of Law.

Heidi Edwards has been an active THPRD user for more than 20 years. Her family has participated in numerous activities, programs, camps, and sports. She has worked in higher education for more than two decades at both Portland Community College and Portland State University. She is an active community volunteer and has served on the Beaverton School District Budget Committee as well as a THPRD advisory committee. She has a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree from Portland State University.

Tya Ping is a health care provider, community volunteer and longtime resident of Washington County who grew up enjoying THPRD parks and programs. As a mom with three young children she is very familiar with THPRD services. Tya earned her Pharmacy Doctorate from Oregon State University and OHSU. She is a clinical pharmacist at Kaiser Permanente. She has previously volunteered for the Beaverton School District, the Beaverton Library Advisory board, and the Washington County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Board Officers Selected for 2019-2020

One of the first things the new board undertook was to elect their leadership for the new fiscal year. Felicita Monteblanco, who has served on the board since 2017, was elected the board President, Tya Ping was elected as Secretary, and Wendy Kroger was elected Secretary Pro Tempore. Elections for board officers are held annually in July.

Board meetings are typically held on the second Tuesday of each month and are open to the public. Additional work sessions will be scheduled if needed; public input is welcome. Please see the schedule or call 503-645-6433 for further information.

Most board meetings are held at the Howard M. Terpenning Recreation Complex, Dryland Meeting Room. Visit the board page on the district website for details.

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New section of the Westside Linear Trail completedby Lauretta Young