Refurbishing Shute Park

Location: Shute Park, Hillsboro

Help to refurbish Shute Park, one of Hillsboro's oldest parks. This project would help to add new amenities to this park including nature play elements and native plant gardens.

From the original submission: "As a young African American coming from a home where leisure and quality time was not as accessible, city parks has always been the gold mine for me… Getting the children AND adults outside out the house - Parks are great for everything and has always been the way to bring family and friends together. "

Adult Play Structures in Hillsboro

Location: Various locations along Rock Creek Trail, Hillsboro

Enhance recreational and play opportunities for adults in existing parks. This proposal addresses the community need for free, accessible, physical play for adults beyond walking trails or sitting on benches.

From the original submission: "Not all of us grew out of that joy children feel, running around playing tag, or climbing jungle gyms …ADULTS ARE BORED! There’s nowhere to go, nothing to do if you don’t have money. We don’t want to sit in a boring normal park where your options are “picnic” or “jog”. That’s why we need a free to use enlarged play structure, meant solely for adults."

Improve Reedville Creek culvert for beaver, lamprey, and fish passage

Location: Reedville Creek at SE 51st Ave, Hillsboro

Proposes to improve wildlife passage under a residential (SE 51st Ave) street in Hillsboro. This stream has documented use by cutthroat trout and winter steelhead, and is very close to Rock Creek, which has documented pacific lamprey spawning.

From the original submission: "The culvert under a roadway has a two floor drop. Beaver, fingerling fishes, and baby lamprey have difficulty accessing/using the culvert for passage under the road."

Restoring Nature in Hillsboro

Location: Hamby Park, Orchard Park, Rood Bridge Park, Frances Park, Turner Creek Park, Hillsboro

Protect and restore wildlife habitat in significant locations throughout Hillsboro's natural area system. It could extend corridors of natural vegetation into turfgrass areas.

From the original submission: "To have more wilderness because humans have used so much space, so there should be more wilderness preserved for other creatures. I created a big forest with some grasslands. Everything that was originally on this land."

Covered Outdoor Play at Evergreen Park

Location: Evergreen Park, Hillsboro

Add covered play space to Evergreen Park to expand the time of year play areas are usable through protection from both rain as well as heat. Shade structures could integrate green roofs with native plants.

From the original submission: "Shaded playground areas in the summer and rain protection in the wet months. The weather here is challenging for play when it rains, but that should not deter us from going outside." 

Pollinator Pathway

Location: Rock Creek Powerline Corridor, Beaverton

Add pollinator and bird-friendly habitat plantings along with interpretive elements.

From the original submission: "… Community has predominantly grass in neighborhoods and public spaces. "

To Make It All Good Again at Tualatin Hills Nature Park

Location: Tualatin Hills Nature Park, Beaverton

Help to restore a natural area using Traditional Ecological Knowledge led by Indignous community members, and expand programming to connect more people to this place using a culturally specific lens.

From the original submission: "...a natural area with a trail systems leading through upland conifer forests, oak woodlands, wetlands, and meadows. This natural area is open to the public, but is not well known... We have identified thoughtful land stewardship, outreach to the neighboring communities, and field trips and learning opportunities for the Indigenous community as priorities for this partnership. Gardens for vegetables and cultural plants for healing and medicine such as sage, Navajo tea, pinon trees, juniper trees, and corn… Indigenous community has lack of space in their personal backyards for gardens and cultural herbs and first foods that are a shared community resource. This could be a place where Indigenous people can be safe and connect to land and community." 

To Make It All Good Again at PCC Rock Creek

Location: PCC Rock Creek Natural Area, Beaverton

Help to restore a 100-acre natural area at PCC Rock Creek using Traditional Ecological Knowledge led by Indignous community members, and expand programming to connect more people to this place using a culturally specific lens.

From the original submission: "...a 100-acre natural area with a trail systems leading through upland conifer forests, oak woodlands, wetlands, and meadows. This natural area is open to the public, but is not well known... We have identified thoughtful land stewardship, outreach to the neighboring communities, and field trips and learning opportunities for the Indigenous community as priorities for this partnership. Ggardens for vegetables and cultural plants for healing and medicine such as sage, Navajo tea, pinon trees, juniper trees, and corn… Indigenous community has lack of space in their personal backyards for gardens and cultural herbs and first foods that are a shared community resource. This could be a place where Indigenous people can be safe and connect to land and community."

Fruit Loop and Friends

Location: Future THPRD neighborhood park at SW Pointer Rd, Beaverton

Include space for fruit trees and culturally significant edible plants, open to be harvested by the public. A looping pathway would feature orchard trees, fruiting vines and shrubs, honoring indigenous agriculture and Bracero workers.

From the original submission: " Instead of community gardens which sometimes feel inaccessible, maintaining park pebbles instead of beach sand."

Nature Play in Evergreen Park

Location: Evergreen Park, Hillsboro

Add nature play elements to Evergreen Park in Hillsboro. Includes log play, tactile play and climbing structures,

From the original submission: "It has a forest where can play hide and seek. You can climb the trees and build forts. There's a pond where you can feed the pond. You can put your feet in the pond. There's a seashell cave. There are swings, a climbing structure and a slide. There is a rock pit and you can take rock home."

Native Plant Gardens in Hillsboro Parks

Location: Hillsboro

Creates native plant gardens in existing parks for communities of Color to learn about wildlife, habitat, and protection of the environment.

From the original submission: "I wish the regular parks in our area had native plant gardens that you could walk through… Native plants bring interesting birds and wildlife we wouldnt see normally without traveling out to wetlands or huge metro parks. We can't all do that from our neighborhoods, and how can you learn if you like native gardens if you never see them? A project like this would give nature exposure, education, and experience ... and involve and inspire more BIPOC generations in climate supportive work!"

Connecting People and Habitat in Aloha

Location: Recuredo Park, Beaverton

Build community garden and natural area spaces in partnership with the organization Adelante Mujeres. Make natural spaces more inclusive, and increase health and welfare in diverse neighborhoods.

From the original submission: "... help to better understand their connection to nature and ecosystems, including classes on beekeeping, planting an orchard, and posting pictures around the property of the local flora and fauna… Having access to green space is key to dismantle disparities felt by our community members. The only way to bring about lasting, adaptive, and meaningful change to food insecure communities and thus health disparities is to involve those most impacted by ethnicity, gender, and class-related inequities."

Updating the Playground at Shadywood Park

Location: Shadywood Park, Hillsboro

Help update the playground at Shadywood Park in Hillsboro by adding nature play elements and native plantings.

From the original submission: " …Access to safe and clean playgrounds for everyone in every area is incredibly important. The playgrounds are very outdated and unsafe."

Pollinator Habitat at Center St. Park

Location: Center St. Park, Beaverton

Restore native plants like milkweed to increase habitat and resources for pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds habitat in an underutilized corner of the park.

From the original submission: "The northeast corner of Center Street Park goes almost completely unused. For many years I've thought this corner of the park should be converted into a milkweed meadow for pollinators… This project would have a tremendous positive impact on Oregon's native pollinators. Milkweed is a critical part of the Western Monarch butterfly's life cycle yet is in steep decline. The education content could focus on the importance of cross-border partnerships with the message that a decline in the Monarch butterfly impacts both the US and Mexico and we can only save them by leveraging our relationships to collaborate effectively together. "

Community Agriculture under Utility Lines

Location: John Marty Park, Beaverton

Convert underused areas under powerlines adjacent to residential neighborhoods to space for community gardens with pollinator plants.

From the original submission: "What if we used some of that space for community gardens? And what if we had folks employed, andor volunteering, to educate new gardeners about best gardening practices? …Low income people and people of color are especially hard-hit by rampant inflation and would benefit from being able to grow their own food."

Adult Play Structures at Heckman Road Park

Location: New THPRD Park at Heckman Road, Beaverton

Add adult-sized play equipment, such as bouldering walls or other nature play elements, to a new park project on Heckman Road.

From the original submission: "Not all of us grew out of that joy children feel, running around playing tag, or climbing jungle gyms …ADULTS ARE BORED! There’s nowhere to go, nothing to do if you don’t have money. We don’t want to sit in a boring normal park where your options are “picnic” or “jog”. That’s why we need a free to use enlarged play structure, meant solely for adults."

Wetland Restoration at King's Bend

Location: King's Bend Natural Area, Cornelius

Restore wetlands in the floodplains of the Upper Tualatin river to provide enhanced habitat for birds and other native species.

From the original submission: "New wetlands or nature reserves specifically for birds (similar to jackson bottom wetlands). …It is important that everyone in a community can see the wonderful and native animals we have in our area... Birding brings people together! Birds forever!"

Learning and Discovery Garden at W.L. Henry Elementary School.

Location: W.L. Henry Elementary, Hillsboro

Expand and add amenities to a community garden space at this Hillsboro Public School in order to open it up to families and community members. The project would integrate native plants and pollinator habitat to this space.

From the original submission: "We'd love to expand our school garden to invite families and the community to have a space to plant, explore and play. Being an active participant in the garden seves to instill pride in the process and encourages healthier eating."

Covered Outdoor Play at Bard Park

Location: Bard Park, in Forest Grove

Build a covered shelter over the playground at Bard Park. The shelter could include a green roof and other native planting elements.

From the original submission: "Shaded playground areas in the summer and rain protection in the wet months. The weather here is challenging for play when it rains, but that should not deter us from going outside."

Grow Better Community in Cornelius

Location: E. Baseline St. and 12th Ave, Cornelius

Convert space adjacent to the Centro Mercado for a new community garden space to allow community members to grow and harvest their own food.

From the original submission: "Helping houseless recovering persons generate work references and freedom in controlling their own schedule ... I was raised in the time when we all in the 'Hood' would help each other and harvest the ripe fruit's and Vegetables, some would can it and share or donate to food banks. …There are more and more food deserts in our cities."

Pocket Forest in Cornelius

Location: Throughout Cornelius, in parks and in neighborhoods

Create micro-forests within small parks such as Hordichok Park, or properties in central Cornelius neighborhoods. Neighborhoods in central Cornelius face inequitable access to trees.

From the original submission: "Find small pockets of land throughout the metro area to plant Miyawaki-method pocket forests. Focus on areas with low tree equity scores first."

Gleaning Gardens for All

Location: Future Neighborhood Park at SW Pointer Rd., in Beaverton

Provide a new community gleaning garden space in the more densely populated areas of Beaverton or unincorporated Washington County.

From the original submission: "The idea is to have a community garden that is planted and cared for by volunteers and is there for anyone walking passing by to harvest eat take any ripe fruits or vegetables anytime."

Asian Produce Garden

Location: Future West Neighborhood Park and/or Park Blocks, in North Bethany

Provide space for culturally specific gardening practices in North Bethany, an area with a high density Asian American population. Native plants and pollinator habitat could be included as elements in the design. This project would be completed in partnership with a community-based organization serving Asian and Asian American communities.

From the original submission: "Many Asians live in Washington County. Having a culturally specific garden would introduce new healthy vegetables that are a core part of Asian diets… Asian fresh vegetables could be a cultural intersection of health, well being and sharing. "

Keeping It Rustic in Cornelius (27b)

Location: Kyle Recreation Area, in Forest Grove

Improve water access to Gales Creek to enhance opportunities for fishing, picnicking and recreation.

From the original submission: "Areas for fishing and just to sit watching the ripples in the river as well as picnic areas where you can see the river… Not overly developed ... just a little touch of civilized …Through fishing all sorts of friendships would developed between all. As well as friendships developing with picnics."

Serenity Park

Location: Cornelius

A park space for communion, expression, and mental health. The proposal emphasizes serenity and beauty.

From the original submission: "My vision is and artistic and functional park to enhance the communication. It will be a serene space to interact… We live under the influence of a lot of overstimulation… [this will be] a great area for expression like dance, workout, yoga. And being surrounded by beauty is very important." 

Re-Indigenizing the Forest Grove Loop Trail

Location: Forest Grove Loop Trail, in Forest Grove

Uplift Indigenous cultural heritage through the addition of culturally specific design elements, such as gathering spaces and first food and medicine plantings, along the southwest portion of the Forest Grove Loop Trail. This project would center the history of the Atfalati people through interpretive and storytelling opportunities, and be a collaboration with the Native community.

From the original submission: "Community garden, or planting of native plants, clean access to waterways and neighborhood trails, indigenous log house or community space that's traditional for tribe… It will empower people to to get together and reconnect with ancestral ways."

Wetland Restoration at Kyle Park

Location: Kyle Recreation Area on B Street, in Forest Grove

Help fund wetland restoration along Gales Creek at Kyle Recreation Area in Forest Grove.

From the original submission: "New wetlands or nature reserves specifically for birds (similar to jackson bottom wetlands) …It is important that everyone in a community can see the wonderful and native animals we have in our area... Birding brings people together! Birds forever!"

Pollinator Pathway on the Forest Grove Loop

Location: Future SW portion of Forest Grove Loop Trail, in Forest Grove

Add pollinator and bird-friendly habitat plantings along with interpretive elements on the southwest portion of the Forest Grove Loop Trail.

From the original submission: "… As our community grows it is important that we support and maintain natural spaces and wildlife at the same time."