THPRD expands Waterhouse Trail, providing safety, convenience, scenic value
April 04, 2014
The Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District is nearing completion on a multifaceted Waterhouse Trail expansion project that will make more than two miles of new pathway available to the public.
It also brings THPRD closer to its goal of a continuous 10-mile trail backbone running from its northern to southern boundaries.
The $3.7 million expansion, funded by THPRD’s 2008 voter-approved bond measure, is expected to be open for public use late this month. Construction began in July 2013. It consists of three separate segments:
Segment No. 1 (Merlo Road to Baseline Road) of the Waterhouse Trail is 0.6 miles long, linking the Merlo Road MAX Station to Baseline Road, with signalized crossings at Jenkins Road and Baseline Road. Patrons will be able to use this trail to connect via different transportation methods such as light-rail and TriMet.
Segment No. 5 (Bronson Road to Joscelyn Street, just north of Highway 26) of the Waterhouse Trail spans about one mile, connecting the on-street route at Bronson Road to Joscelyn Street via a powerline corridor. It includes a 570-foot boardwalk across the Bronson Creek Greenway, a 35-acre area of wetland and riparian corridor. This segment will connect neighborhoods previously separated by Bronson Creek.
Stoller Creek Greenway, the “West Spur” trail (connects Waterhouse Trail to Rock Creek Trail). This connection between the Waterhouse and Rock Creek trails is a community trail that follows a tributary stream to Rock Creek. It includes a boardwalk along the stream within the link between Laidlaw Road and the Rock Creek Trail. This segment is 0.55 miles long.
THPRD's work to complete the Waterhouse Trail was supplemented by other recent projects along the trail corridor. When Washington County undertook an expansion of the Bethany Boulevard overpass across Sunset Highway, the project included widened sidewalks along the west side of Bethany Boulevard and the north side of Bronson Road. These wide sidewalks are on-street portions of the trail and connect with THPRD's Waterhouse Trail Segment No. 5 project.
The district also worked with Central Bethany Development to close a critical .16-mile gap in the trail between West Union and Laidlaw roads. The Central Bethany Development project included two bridges and connects the Bethany Town Center with both the Waterhouse Trail and Rock Creek Greenway Trail.
"These improvements help pedestrians and bicyclists connect more directly to their destinations while traveling on a safe, attractive route," said Aisha Willits, THPRD’s deputy director of Planning. "For example, the boardwalk over Bronson Creek is scenic and has brought together neighborhoods north and south of the creek, which they've wanted for a long time.
"The crossing of West Union Road has been very well received," she added. "Not only were we able to make the connection from John Marty Park to West Union Road, we've now provided trail users with a highly visible, safe crossing of that busy road."
The park district still has two gaps in the Waterhouse Trail it wants to complete:
A .73-mile connection from Springville Road to the future North Bethany trail system, the northernmost section of the Waterhouse Trail. It is anticipated that this segment will be built as development occurs in North Bethany.
A .18-mile segment south of Cornell Road at Bethany Boulevard. THPRD is currently pursuing ConnectOregon V grant funding for the .18 mile segment. Letters of support can be sent to Chris Cummings of the Oregon Department of Transportation, 555 13th Street NE, Salem OR 97301. Letters will be accepted until June 30.
Completion of the second gap, in combination with completion of a bond-funded trail segment connecting the Waterhouse Trail to the Westside Trail would enable THPRD to create a continuous 10-mile north-south backbone running through the district from the PCC Rock Creek Campus area to Barrows Road (south of Scholls Ferry Road). The district hopes to complete the backbone by 2016.
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 nature preserve. 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: April 4, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Click here for official release (PDF).