Shute Park (Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shute Park |
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Playground at the park
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| Type | Public, city |
| Location | Hillsboro, Oregon, United States |
| Area | 13 acres (53,000 m2) |
| Created | 1906 |
| Operated by | Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department |
| Status | open |
| Website | Shute Park |
Shute Park is a fun public park in Hillsboro, Oregon, USA. It's the oldest park in the city, bought way back in 1906. This park is about 13 acres big!
You can find it at Southeast Tenth and Maple streets, right by the Tualatin Valley Highway. The park has cool stuff like a swimming center, a library branch, and a community center. Long ago, it even had a big building for roller skating and was a main spot for city events. The park is named after a businessman named John W. Shute.
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Park History: How Shute Park Began
On December 21, 1906, the city of Hillsboro bought about 15 acres of land from a banker named John W. Shute. They paid $1,622 for it. Mr. Shute had one rule: the land had to be used as a park and named after him.
To pay for the park, the city asked people to pay a small extra tax. This land used to be a brickyard, where bricks were made. Many buildings in downtown Hillsboro were built with bricks from this very spot!
The Pavilion: A Place for Fun and Drills
In June 1920, people in Hillsboro voted to build a big pavilion at the park. It was finished in June 1921. This building was huge, about 71 by 117 feet, and had no posts inside, which was great for dancing!
At first, the pavilion was mostly used for dances. Later, it became a popular roller skating rink. It was also used by soldiers for training, especially during World War II. Sadly, the building got old and didn't meet safety rules anymore. It cost too much to fix, so it was torn down in 1974.
Fair Fun and Park Improvements
From 1925 until 1951, the Washington County Fair was held at Shute Park. During the fair, the park had extra buildings, like one for chickens!
In 1935, workers from a program called the Works Progress Administration (WPA) helped make the park even better. They added lots of plants and trees, a baseball field, a stone bridge, and lights. The improved park was officially opened on July 2, 1936. The "Hillsboro's Happy Days" festival also used to happen here. The pavilion could hold up to 1,500 people and even hosted a circus!
Changes and New Additions to the Park
In 1962, the county's historical society thought about putting their museum at the park. They didn't build it there, but they did move their museum to the park's pavilion for a short time that year.
In 1972, the city decided to change how a 5.5-acre part of the park was used. This section was across the highway and had a baseball field. Hillsboro High School used this field for their games until 1965. The city wanted to sell this land to get money for other park improvements.
In September 1982, plans were approved to build a permanent stage in the park. This stage was paid for by private donations. In 1987, a tall, 25-foot statue called Chief Kno-Tah was added to the park. It was carved by Peter Wolf Toth and is part of a series of 74 statues across the country.
In 2006, the park celebrated its 100th birthday! There were people dressed in old-fashioned clothes and a performance by the Oregon Symphonic Band. In 2008, some of the big Douglas fir trees in the park got sick. The city started removing these dangerous trees in 2009. More trees were removed in 2013 when the library was renovated.
What You Can Do at Shute Park Today
Shute Park is located at 10th and Maple streets and has many fun things to do. You can find a picnic shelter, a softball field, restrooms, and playground equipment. There's also a stage for performances.
The park is home to a branch of the Hillsboro library, a community center for seniors, and a swimming center. From 1987 to 2017, the park also had the Chief Kno-Tah wood sculpture.
Shute Park Aquatic and Recreation Center
The Shute Park Aquatic and Recreation Center (SPARC) opened in 1981. It has indoor and outdoor pools, exercise areas, and racquetball courts. It was updated and reopened in 2006. Now it has a spa pool, a fun slide, and a play area in one of the pools!
Summer Concerts at Shute Park
Shute Park also hosts the yearly "Showtime at Shute" free summer concert series. These outdoor concerts happen every Thursday from July through August. It's a great way to enjoy music in the park!
