Wilsonville Memorial Park

Wilsonville residents voted to incorporate as a city in 1968, with the city forming the next year. That year the city purchased about 61 acres (25 ha) along the Willamette River on the east side of Interstate 5 to be used as a park, named Wilsonville Memorial Park.[1][2] In June 1987, residents approved a bond measure to build a library and add 41.5 acres (16.8 ha) to Memorial Park.[3] This land was located along the Willamette River west of the original part of the park and was purchased from Nike, Inc. for $1.1 million.[3] The next year the city built new restrooms at the park near the river.[4]

In January 1989, Wilsonville renamed the park as Phillip R. Balsiger Memorial Park in honor of the city's first mayor and promoter of incorporating the community.[5] Balsiger, who died the year before, served four terms as mayor and worked to create and design the park.[5] Some residents objected to the name change and lack of public participation in the decision.[2] This led to a petition drive to restore the park's original name, which the city council voted in favor of restoring the original name in November 1989.[6]

Trail and natural area at the park

Murase Plaza at night

Wilsonville hired design firm Walker and Macy to create a master plan for the park in September 1990.[7] At that time 40 of the 102 acres (0.41 km²) in the park were undeveloped, with the developed portion containing four baseball/softball fields along with children's play equipment.[7] In January 1991, the city approved plans to develop the park's western section.[8] The first phase of this development was to include new roads, new parking lots, a playground, a lighted tennis court, and a softball field at a cost of almost $825,000.[9] Wilsonville's city council approved $500,000 for the project in May 1991, but issues with drainage in the park created problems with the plans.[10] In July 1992, plans were finalized and construction began on some of the original improvements.[11] Costing about $423,000, the improvements included expanding the drainage system, a new ball field, and preparations for adding a playground and snack bar.[11]

Wilsonville purchased the Boozier property at the north end of the park in 1993, land totaling 22 acres (8.9 ha).[12] City voters rejected a $940,000 bond measure in 1995 that would have added more athletic fields to the park along with an amphitheater.[13] In 1996, a Boy Scout Eagle Project re-opened the community garden at Memorial Park after the original garden program ended in the 1980s due to lack of interest.[14] Later in 1996, a full-size and half-size basketball courts were added to the park after donations by Nike and Hollywood Entertainment, who both had large operations in the city at that time.[15] In April 1998, the city approved adding a skatepark at Memorial Park north of the tennis courts.[16] The skatepark opened in 2000,[17] paid for in part by private donations.[18]

In 2000, the city started Wilsonville Celebration Days to replace the Boones Ferry Days, with the new event centered on activities at Memorial Park, as the old event had as well.[19][20] Beginning in 2001, the city has entertained proposals for building an aquatic center in Memorial Park.[21] A new city hall was proposed for the city to be located next to the northern end of the park near Wilsonville Road in 2002.[12][22] However, citizen opposition led to the scrapping of that plan and recall attempts against the mayor and two city councilors.[22] A new city hall opened in September 2006 a few blocks north of Memorial Park.[22]

During the summer of 2006, Murase Plaza was opened at the northwest corner of the park.[23] Originally named City Center Park, the area added a water feature and amphitheater to Memorial Park.[23] In June 2006, the water features at Murase Plaza were temporarily closed due to unhealthy water.[24] The city purchased 11 acres (45,000 m²) of land across Wilsonville Road in November 2007 for $4.2 million in order to build an affordable senior housing complex.[25] Most of this land is wetlands and has slopes that cannot be used for the complex, which will be added to Memorial Park.[25] In September 2008, the Stein Homestead Barn re-opened after nearly $430,000 in restorations and improvements.[26]

Skatepark in Memorial Park

Interactive water feature in Murase Plaza

Memorial Park at 126 acres (51 ha) is Wilsonville's largest park, and is also the oldest park.[1][27] Located between the Willamette River (including 0.5 miles (0.80 km) of river frontage) and Wilsonville Road, Boeckman Creek flows through the park on its way to emptying into the Willamette.[1] The park includes a trail system, athletic facilities, forested areas, picnic areas, parking, restrooms, and a skatepark among other features.[28] Murase Plaza is in the northwest corner and includes an amphitheater and water features.[1] The plaza was named after Robert Murase who designed the plaza and died before it opened.[29]

Athletic facilities at the park include several fields and courts.[1] Courts include one full-sized basketball court, a half-sized basketball court, two tennis courts, and a beach volleyball court.[1] The fields include one baseball field, four softball fields, and three soccer fields that overlay the softball diamonds' outfields.[1] Memorial Park also includes the only skatepark in the city.[1]

Other developed amenities in the park include picnic shelters, a dog park, restrooms, parking lots, picnic tables, a community center, a boat dock, and children's play equipment.[1] Memorial Park has two main picnic shelters, the River Shelter with a capacity of 200 people and the smaller Forest Shelter that seats 150.[30] A third shelter is located at the athletic fields.[1] The dog park area is the only off-leash area in the city.[1] Stein Homestead Barn serves as a community space used for a variety of events.[31] The wooden barn was built in 1901 by Gustave Stein and renovated in 2008, with improvements that included adding a sink and restoring the original shake roof.[31]

Natural areas include forested portions, wetlands, and a community garden.[1] A portion of the park on the northern edge is forested and nicknamed as Owl Woods due to the presence of a great horned owl.[32] Other birds that inhabit the park include wrens, pileated woodpeckers, grosbeaks, red-tailed hawks, and bald eagles on occasion.[32] The park includes the Ernest Kolbe Giant Sequoia, selected as one of the city's heritage trees.[33]

During the summers the park is home to the city's Art in the Park program for children.[34] The crafts program is held once a week and started in 2004.[34] In July and August each year, the park is the host of Movies in the Park.[35] The program shows free movies on select Fridays during those months.[35] An annual Easter Egg hunt is held at the park as well. Wilsonville Celebration Days used to be held at the park, but is now staged at Town Center Park.

• Graham Oaks Nature Park

• Media related to Wilsonville Memorial Park at Wikimedia Commons
• Park map