Happy Valley (skate)park planning meeting

Local skater Rick Lai has been working toward a Happy Valley skatepark for a while. Here’s the latest development by way of the North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District:

In March, North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District purchased 33 acres of property off SE 162nd Avenue in Happy Valley. This land was purchased to provide active recreation for community residents of all ages. Some of the uses already suggested include athletic fields, trails, play areas, skate park, dog park and community center. NCPRD will work with the community to complete a concept plan to determine future improvements to this site. Interested citizens are encouraged to participate in the process by attending the planning meetings or by submitting comments via mail, e-mail or telephone. Submitted comments will be presented during the public meetings.

Thursday, May 1, 2008
6-8 p.m.
Oregon Trail Elementary
13895 SE 152nd Dr.
Happy Valley, OR 97015

Your input and ideas will help shape the park site for future use and enjoyment. We hope you will attend.
Questions, suggestions or comments may be sent to Michelle Healy by e-mailing (michellehea@co.clackamas.or.us) or by calling the parks hotline at 503-353-4367.

Response to a query I sent:

We are not sure yet if there will be a skatepark, or how extensive it will be. The meeting on May 1st is the first meeting to identify uses for the park. We are required to include 4 softball fields, a few multi-use fields, and reserve space for a varsity baseball field, as part of our agreements with the school district and City, but should have additional space for a skatepark of some type/size.

We have a budget for some development of the park. We envision (depending on the public process) that the fields that are part of our agreement with the school district and City would be developed first (Phase 1), with the possibility of a skatepark or similar use (again as defined in the public comments) as a Phase 1A.

The public has brought up the idea of a skatepark at multiple meetings, in multiple other parks planning processes. The City of Happy Valley and the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District do not currently have a skatepark, and know that there is a need for one. We will depend on stakeholder input during our planning process to show that there is a need for skateparks in this area.