Bicentennial Park is a neighborhood park in Hillsboro in the U.S. state of

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

. Opened in 1976, it is named for the United States' Bicentennial and also honors the city's one-hundredth year as a city. Located at northeast 25th Avenue and Parkwood, the park covers about and includes a

water reservoir A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation. Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including control ...

, a fire station, a playground, and a soccer field among other amenities.

History

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. In December 1962, the roof collapsed on the water tower while workers were attempting to complete the dome, killing five people. 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. On June 26, 1976, Hillsboro's planning commission approved adding a temporary

fire station __NOTOC__ A fire station (also called a fire house, fire hall, firemen's hall, or engine house) is a structure or other area for storing firefighting apparatuses such as fire engines and related vehicles, personal protective equipment, fire h ...

on one-third of an acre of land at 25th Avenue and Parkwood, where a park would also be located. 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 park. The city approved both the park and the temporary fire station in October 1976. The temporary fire station then opened in 1977. That year Hillsboro received a grant from the

American Revolution Bicentennial Commission The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to historical events leading up to the creation of the United States of America as an independent republic. It was a central event ...

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. Plans called for a

soccer field A football pitch (also known as soccer field) is the playing surface for the game of association football. Its dimensions and markings are defined by Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, "The Field of Play". The pitch is typically made of natural tu ...

, trails, and a playground, in addition to the fire station and water reservoir on the park grounds. On October 19, 1976, the city officially dedicated the still-undeveloped Bicentennial Park in a ceremony on the city's one-hundredth birthday. 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. 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. At that time a sign was installed at the park, provided by the Jaycee-ettes. Later that year the Hillsboro

Jaycees The United States Junior Chamber, also known as the Jaycees, JCs or JCI USA, is a leadership training, service organization and civic organization for people between the ages of 18 and 40. It is a branch of Junior Chamber International (JCI) ...

announced they would provide further improvements to the park starting in 1977. 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 The asterisk ( ), from Late Latin , from Ancient Greek , ''asteriskos'', "little star", is a typographical symbol. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a heraldic star. Computer scientists and mathematicians often voc ...

, and restrooms. The soccer field opened in 1978, as did the picnic shelter and playground. 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. The Hillsboro teams lost both games against the 18-year-old Germans. 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. 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. The Parks and Recreation Department began upgrades to the park in October 2009, paid for in part by a federal grant. Renovations included new playground equipment, a new bathroom, and landscape improvements. 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 Hillsboro Airport , also known as Portland–Hillsboro Airport, is a corporate, general aviation and flight-training airport serving the city of Hillsboro, in Washington County, Oregon, United States. It is one of three airports in the Portland, ...

Amenities

Bicentennial Park is a neighborhood park in the middle of Hillsboro. Features include a single soccer field, restrooms, a picnic shelter and picnic tables, paved walking paths, park benches, and a children's playground. The playground includes a climbing boulder similar to one at Orchard Park, on the other side of the city. The signature large, green water reservoir is in diameter and has a capacity of . The park does not have off-street parking, but does include large oak trees along the southern end of property.

References

External links

Parks
– Hillsboro Magazine {{Hillsboro, Oregon 1976 establishments in Oregon Parks in Hillsboro, Oregon Protected areas established in 1976