Bicentennial Park (Hillsboro, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bicentennial Park |
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Playground at the park
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| Type | Public, city |
| Location | Hillsboro, Oregon United States |
| Area | 4.4 acres (18,000 m2) |
| Created | 1976 |
| Operated by | Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department |
| Status | Open |
| Website | Bicentennial Park |
Bicentennial Park is a fun neighborhood park in Hillsboro, a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It opened in 1976. The park's name celebrates two important events: the United States' 200th birthday (its Bicentennial) and Hillsboro's 100th year as a city.
You can find Bicentennial Park at northeast 25th Avenue and Parkwood. It covers about 4 acres (1.6 ha) of land. The park has a water reservoir, a fire station, a playground, and a soccer field. It's a great place for families and friends to enjoy time outdoors!
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Park History
How the Park Started
Back in 1962, the city of Hillsboro bought a piece of land. It was about 6.2 acres between northeast 24th and 25th streets at Parkwood. The city planned to use part of this land for a water reservoir.
In 1975, the Hillsboro Utilities Commission decided to give the land where the water tower was located to the parks department. This was so they could build a park there.
Building the Park
In June 1976, Hillsboro's planning commission approved a temporary fire station on a small part of the land. This was the same land where the new park would be built. Some neighbors were worried about noise and safety from the fire station. Because of their concerns, the city waited to make a final decision.
Finally, in October 1976, the city approved both the park and the temporary fire station. The temporary fire station opened the next year, in 1977.
A Special Name
In 1977, Hillsboro received a grant of $2,500 from the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. This money was for building a soccer field at the park. The city also added its own money to help develop the park even more.
Plans for the park included:
- A soccer field
- Walking trails
- A playground
- The fire station
- The water reservoir
On October 19, 1976, the city officially dedicated Bicentennial Park. This ceremony happened on Hillsboro's 100th birthday as a city. Important people like Mayor Miller M. Duris and Oregon Governor Robert Straub attended. About 100 people came to celebrate.
Even though it was named Bicentennial Park, it also honored Hillsboro's centennial. A sign was put up at the park by the Jaycee-ettes to mark the occasion.
Park Improvements
Later in 1976, the Hillsboro Jaycees announced they would help improve the park starting in 1977. Their project began with installing $5,500 worth of play equipment in March. They also planned to add:
- Park benches
- Picnic tables
- Fire pits
- A picnic shelter
- Restrooms
The soccer field, picnic shelter, and playground all opened in 1978.
In August 1984, the park hosted several soccer games. A youth team from West Germany played against teams from Hillsboro High School and Glencoe High School.
The large water tower at the park was updated in 2005. This was needed because of issues with the soil that had been found in 2001.
In October 2009, the Parks and Recreation Department started making more upgrades to the park. These improvements were partly paid for by a federal grant. The renovations included:
- New playground equipment
- A new bathroom
- Better landscaping
In 2010, the city announced that the temporary fire station at the park would close. A new, permanent fire station was built near the Hillsboro Airport.
Park Features
Bicentennial Park is a 4.4-acre (1.8 ha) neighborhood park right in the middle of Hillsboro. It has many great features for visitors:
- A single soccer field for games and practice
- Restrooms
- A picnic shelter and picnic tables for outdoor meals
- Paved walking paths for strolling or biking
- Park benches for relaxing
- A children's playground with fun equipment
The playground even has a climbing boulder, similar to one at Orchard Park. The park's most noticeable feature is its large, green water reservoir. It is 150 feet (46 m) across and can hold 6,000,000 US gallons (23,000,000 L; 5,000,000 imp gal) of water. While the park doesn't have a special parking lot, it does have big oak trees along its southern edge, providing nice shade.
