Bicentennial Park (Hillsboro, Oregon)

By 1962 the city had purchased a 6.2-acre plot of land between northeast 24th and 25th streets at Parkwood to use in part for a water reservoir.[2][3][4] In December 1962, the roof collapsed on the water tower while workers were attempting to complete the dome, killing five people.[3][4] The Hillsboro Utilities Commission gave the land where the tower was located to the parks department to build a park at the site in 1975.[5]

On June 26, 1976, Hillsboro's planning commission approved adding a temporary fire station on one-third of an acre of land at 25th Avenue and Parkwood, where a park would also be located.[6] Neighbors protested the decision due to concerns over noise and safety, and the city postponed a final decision on adding the fire station to the planned 4.4-acre (1.8 ha) park.[6] The city approved both the park and the temporary fire station in October 1976.[7] The temporary fire station then opened in 1977.[5]

That year Hillsboro received a grant from the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission in the amount of $2,500 for development of a soccer field; the city matched the grant with city funds to further develop the park.[8] Plans called for a soccer field, trails, and a playground, in addition to the fire station and water reservoir on the park grounds.[9]

On October 19, 1976, the city officially dedicated the still-undeveloped Bicentennial Park in a ceremony on the city's one-hundredth birthday.[9][10] The dedication ceremony included mayor Miller M. Duris, Oregon Governor Robert Straub, and chairman of the parks and recreation commission, Will Crandall, along with about 100 others.[9] Although named Bicentennial Park, the park was said to be a monument to Hillsboro's centennial, as one-hundred years prior to the dedication, the community was officially incorporated by the state.[9] At that time a sign was installed at the park, provided by the Jaycee-ettes.[9]

Water tower at the park

Later that year the Hillsboro Jaycees announced they would provide further improvements to the park starting in 1977.[8] There project would start with the installation of $5,500 in play equipment in March, and later add park benches, picnic tables, fire pits, a picnic shelter, and restrooms.[8] The soccer field opened in 1978, as did the picnic shelter and playground.[11]

In August 1984, the park was the site of several soccer matches between West German youth soccer team TSU Reichenbach and a team made up of Hillsboro High School and Glencoe High School players.[12][13] The Hillsboro teams lost both games against the 18-year-old Germans.[13] The water tower was upgraded in 2005 after issues with the soil had been discovered in 2001 that forced the city to keep the reservoir only half-full.[4][5]

A 13-year-old boy was attacked with a metal pole by a 12-year-old at the park in August 2008 after two other teenagers talked the perpetrator into attacking the other boy.[14] The Parks and Recreation Department began upgrades to the park in October 2009, paid for in part by a federal grant.[15] Renovations included new playground equipment, a new bathroom, and landscape improvements.[15] In 2010, the city announced the temporary fire station at the park would be closed after a new one was built at the nearby Hillsboro Airport.[16]

Bicentennial Park is a 4.4-acre (1.8 ha) neighborhood park in the middle of Hillsboro.[15] Features include a single soccer field, restrooms, a picnic shelter and picnic tables, paved walking paths, park benches, and a children's playground.[5][11] The playground includes a climbing boulder similar to one at Orchard Park, on the other side of the city.[5] The signature large, green water reservoir is 150 feet (46 m) in diameter and has a capacity of 6,000,000 US gallons (23,000,000 L; 5,000,000 imp gal).[3][5] The park does not have off-street parking, but does include large oak trees along the southern end of property.[5]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bicentennial Park (Hillsboro, Oregon).

• Parks – Hillsboro Magazine