History of the Tualatin Hills Nature Park

The Tualatin Hills Nature Park History Project:

“The Making of Tualatin Hills Nature Park”

The Tualatin Hills Nature Park is a magical forest embedded in Beaverton, Oregon. The Nature Park provides a quiet haven to more than 200,000 visitors each year. Hikers, bikers, botanists, birders, and families traverse its five miles of trails. The wildlife preserve’s 222 acres of wetlands, forests, and streams shelter insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. But without the fierce dedication of a handful of people in the 1970s, the park might have been developed into housing or commercial use and its wildlife habitat lost forever. Most visitors don’t know how it was saved from development. Each time they walk down a trail and hear the birds or listen to the trees, they owe thanks to a small grassroots group of thoughtful, committed people who followed through and did not give up. Overcoming many hurdles through the process, this group was determined to see it through. More than half were women, and many were educators, determined to preserve this treasure in a busy urban area. Fifty years later, we continue to be grateful for their gift to future generations. Find out more information about the intriguing history and watch an inspirational video about the original purchase of the nature park.

http://www.thprd.org/parks-and-trails/nature-park-history#History