Connect > 'Year of the Dog' continues; THPRD to open third park for pooches
'Year of the Dog' continues; THPRD to open third park for pooches
August 29, 2013
Canines have already enjoyed a dip in the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District’s Aloha pool in 2013, and another “Doggie Paddle” is coming up this Sunday afternoon, Sept. 1, at THPRD’s Beaverton pool.
Add to that the opening of two new dog parks within a three-month period and you might call this “The Year of the Dog” at THPRD.
One of the off-leash sites, at Paul & Verna Winkelman Park (10139 SW 175th Avenue, Aloha), opened on June 1. On Sept. 9, the second new dog park, at PCC’s Rock Creek Campus (17705 NW Springville Road, Portland), will open for limited use.
“We get requests for new dog parks all the time,” said Lisa Novak, THPRD superintendent of Programs and Special Activities. “For years, we’ve been trying to find adequate space to accommodate those requests.”
The 1.69-acre site at PCC has been coveted by the district for a while, Novak said.
“Jim McElhinny (director of Park and Recreation Services) and I approached PCC officials about five years ago about using the space, which is near the baseball field and tennis courts,” she said.
Once the PCC Board of Directors approved THPRD’s proposal, the district waited for Clean Water Services to complete an audit of the property’s water quality.
“It was a long process,” Novak said, “but we finally got approvals.” Construction began in June.
The park will have separate, fenced areas with grass for small dogs and larger dogs, as well as an all-season area with wood chips for year-round use.
The all-season area will be open to the public starting Sept. 9. The rest of the dog park will be available for use once the grass matures sufficiently. Hours of operation will be dawn to dusk.
Other site amenities include benches, crushed rock paths, dog waste stations, a water fountain, vinyl-coated chain link fencing, and tree plantings for future shade.
Dog owners are expected to clean up after their pets using the park’s waste disposal facilities. No dogs are allowed on the PCC Rock Creek Campus, which is pet-free to protect the college’s Vet Tech program and farm animals.
“I think the park will be very popular,” Novak said. “There are a lot of homes with small yards, a lot of dog owners in the area, and plenty of parking available.”
THPRD’s original dog park, at Hazeldale Park, continues to be open. The site is located off Rosa between 194th and 196th in Aloha.
About THPRD
Formed in 1955, THPRD is the largest special park district in Oregon, spanning about 50 square miles and serving 230,000 residents in the greater Beaverton area. The district provides year-round recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Offerings include thousands of widely diverse classes, more than 90 park sites with active recreational amenities, 60 miles of trails, eight swim centers, six recreation centers, and 1,400 acres of natural areas. For more information, visit www.thprd.org or call 503/645-6433.
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Contact:
Bob Wayt
Director – Communications
503/614-1218 (direct)
503/686-5134 (cell)
Date: August 29, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Click here for official release (PDF).