Project Information
- Fact Sheet (pdf, 250 KB)
Stations
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What are the primary goals of the Parks Plan?
- Engage the community: Engage local residents to inform the plan and identify priorities.
- Learn about what we have: Conduct conditions assessment of existing parks, amenities & trails; examine levels of service and ongoing maintenance needs.
- Plan for the future: Strategize for future citywide improvements and upgrades.
What will the Parks Plan do?
- Identify new parks and facilities, building on previous planning efforts.
- Provide an understanding of what our current parks provide, and learn what the needs are system-wide.
- Update the fees that developers pay (called Parks System Development Charges) and ensure fees are used to build new parks.
- Have clear direction on the shortand long-term priorities, in order to build the parks and provide the recreation services the community has asked for.
Parks Plan 101
Long Term Plan
Parks Master Plan
A Parks Master Plan is the main guidebook used to plan our city’s Parks and Recreation for the next 10+ years. The Master Plan is based on goals for the city as a whole and includes a list of actions that need to be taken to reach these goals.
Short Term Plan
Capital Improvements Plan (CIP)
As a supplement to the long-term Master Plan, a Capital Improvements Plan identifies more short-term parks projects and ranked by priority. It’s a tool used to actually finance and build these projects and improvements, usually over a 4-6 year period.
Funding
Parks Tax Levy
To establish funding for Parks and Recreation program and maintenance efforts, the City will propose a 5-year local option levy on the May 2018 ballot. The City anticipates the rate will be similar or lower than NCPRD’s current rate of $0.54 per $1,000 of assessed value. For the median home value, this equals approximately $200/ year. This will allow the City to keep taxes at their current levels and will ensure the funds for parks are spent right here in our community.
Facilities Today
Click and drag to explore the map, click lines, shapes, and icons to read about parks in the area. Turn layers on and off and browse the list of projects by clicking the 
button in the upper left of the map window. (You may need to turn off layers with large map objects to select other objects beneath.)
Happy Valley
Parks Facts
313%
How much Happy Valley has grown since 2000 (from 4,519 to 18,680).
106 acres
Parks and open space owned and maintained by the City of Happy Valley.
353 acres
Parks and open spaces owned by Metro that Happy Valley residents have access to.
74 acres
Parks and open spaces owned by North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District that Happy Valley residents have access to.
290 acres
Open space set-asides contributed by the Homeowners Association toward the City’s green infrastructure
Questions: Your vision for parks...
Think about Happy Valley twenty years from now...
What are five words or short phrases that describe your vision for parks and natural areas in the area?
Think about your favorite park...
What makes a park great?
characters remaining.
Read other comments...
What we heard from you so far...
What we Heard
A survey was conducted in September 2012 about parks and recreation facilities. 798 people completed the survey:
84% said the availability of local parks and recreation opportunities were important or extremely important.
Among households who used facilities once or more per year, the top four most frequently used park and recreation facilities include:
- Neighborhood parks (81% of households)
- Large community parks (70% of households)
- Trails within parks (70% of households)
- Natural areas (62% of households)
The survey also provided feedback on the relative importance of existing recreation facilities, and the need for certain amenities.
Building from Past Plans
Past community plans have laid the foundation for developing this new Parks Plan, including:
- Comprehensive Plan
- Transportation System Plan (2016)
- North Clackamas Park and Recreation District Master Plan (2015)
- Happy Valley Town Center Plan (2011)
- Pedestrian System and Trail Master Plan (2009)
- Trail Development Handbook (2009)
- Happy Valley Parks Master Plan (2003)
Policy statements from the Comprehensive Plan
The process is guided by principles such as:
"Provide an integrated system of open space, parks and natural areas throughout the community, using them as an organizing principle for land uses."
"Public or private parks, with usable open space, should be within walking distance of all homes."
Possible Priorities
Community Park
Large parks (10 to 50 acres) contain many facilities and appeal to a more diverse group of users. They serve residents within a 2-mile drive, walk or bike ride from the site. They are designed for organized or intensive recreational activities and sports, and may include passive components such as pathways, picnic areas and natural areas.
Trail Connections
Trails can be developed to accommodate multiple or shared uses, such as pedestrians and bicyclists, or a single use, such as hiking or mountain biking. Recreation trails emphasize a strong relationship with the natural environment, and trails within parks and between parks connect to recreation amenities or other community destinations.
Multi-Purpose Turf Fields
Turf fields can accommodate multiple, different sport field configurations on the same turf. This may include design options for soccer/lacrosse field overlays with baseball. "Turf" means all-weather synthetic material that can accommodate play in all seasons.
Community Center
A multi-purpose building for community and recreational use. Typically include classrooms, common areas, fitness areas, gymnasiums and other programmable space. They may include aquatic facilities or other civic functions, such as a library desk or local government services.
Questions
Your priorities...
In past outreach processes, participants identified five top priorities for the area:
- a new community center,
- new community park,
- multi-purpose turf fields, and
- better trail connections.
Do these still seem like the most important priorities to you?
(Check one.)How would you prioritize possible investments?
You have 10 points to assign. Use the sliders to assign points to each goal.
Community Park |
0 |
Trail Connections |
0 |
Multi-Purpose Turf Fields |
0 |
Community Center |
0 |
Total Spent: 0/10
Questions
Neighborhood and Community Parks
The Parks Plan will identify amenities and features to build in our parks. How important is it to add more of the following park features?
Playgrounds 
Accessible playgrounds 
Sports fields 
Walking trails 
Aquatic facilities 
Natural play areas 
Skate park 
Fitness area 
Community garden 
Dog-friendly park 
Gathering spaces 
Public art 
Community Center and Recreational Programs
We've heard from many residents that they would like to see a Community Center in Happy Valley. How important are the following potential amenities to include in a new community center?
Basketball
(Check one.)Volleyball court
(Check one.)Tennis/pickleball court
(Check one.)Racquetball
(Check one.)Rock climbing walls
(Check one.)Gymnastic studios
(Check one.)Swimming pool
(Check one.)Teen center
(Check one.)Child care
(Check one.)Meeting space
(Check one.)Fitness/training room
(Check one.)Party rooms
(Check one.)Classrooms
(Check one.)Walking/running track
(Check one.)North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District provides a number of recreational programs. Which of the following current programs do you use?
(Check all that apply.)Next Steps
Over the next several months, the project team will be gathering more feedback from the public, stakeholder groups, and the Parks Advisory Committee. The feedback will be used to inform the development of the Draft Master Plan and Capital Improvements Plan.
Contact information
Chris Randall, Public Works Director
City of Happy Valley
503-782-3842
Learn more about the project and upcoming events at:
- Website: HAPPYVALLEYOR.GOV/PARKS
- Facebook: HAPPYVALLEYPARKSANDREC
- Twitter: CITYOFHV
Final Questions
Getting to Your Park
How would you rate bicycle and pedestrian access to the following locations?
City Hall
(Check one.)Happy Valley's Community Policing Center to include Rebstock Park
(Check one.)Happy Valley Library to include Village Green Park
(Check one.)Happy Valley Park
(Check one.)Southern Lites Park
(Check one.)Ashley Meadows Park
(Check one.)Ella V. Osterman Park
(Check one.)Happy Valley Nature Park
(Check one.)Scouters Mt. Nature Park
(Check one.)Mt. Talbert Nature Park
(Check one.)Tell us About Yourself
Optional Demographic Questions
(This information helps us know if we are reaching a representative cross-section of our community.)
