Mission & History

The mission of Chehalem Park and Recreation District is to connect and enrich our community through parks, recreation, open space, natural resources, and educational opportunities.

ALL ARE WELCOME.

We’ve been making life extra special in Newberg and Dundee since 1967. CPRD is a Special District, which is a form of independent local government. We encompass Newberg and Dundee. View our Boundary Map here .

CPRD provides neighborhood, community, and Districtwide parks, which include sports complexes, disc golf courses, skateparks (one worldclass), an American BMX Association track, a dog park, and Chehalem Glenn Golf Course - a top-notch 18-hole public course. 

Our public facilities include Chehalem Aquatic & Fitness Center, Chehalem Armory & Youth Center, Chehalem Community Center, Bonnie Benedict Preschool, Chehalem Senior Center, Chehalem Cultural Center, plus administration facilities. Most of these facilities have rental space available for large and small needs.

We also offer numerous events and recreational activities for all ages in sports, fitness, aquatics, crafts, early education, music, and much, much more.

HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS

1963 - Walter Jaquith leads a group of local club and organization leaders through a series of meetings to explore how to meet the growing recreation needs of the community.

June 21, 1965 - Voters approve the formation of the Chehalem Park and Recreation District and elect five board members – Glen Benedict, Toni Crater, Leonard Atrrell, Walter Jaquith and Ernie Leffler. The board selects a budget committee.

May 24, 1966 - Voters defeat a proposal for a tax base to operate the district.

Nov. 8, 1966 - Voters approve a tax base of $48,500 in order to operate the new park and recreation district.

July 1, 1967 - CPRD becomes operational. Frank H. McCoy is hired as superintendent.

1967 - Bonnie Benedict Preschool opens and childcare becomes the first activity program of CPRD, as well as the first preschool in Newberg, serving 4-year-olds and children of kindergarten age.

1967 - CPRD signs a 25-year lease with the City of Newberg operate an outdoor pool and parks.

1967 - The estate of Elizabeth McBroom donates 1.5 acres on the west edge of town on Chehalem Creek.

1967 - Neva Crabtree donates 12.5 acres northwest of Dundee to Yamhill County.

1968 - CPRD expands its childcare program to include 3-year-olds.

April 1969 - CPRD purchases the Presbyterian Church for $15,000 and transforms it into the Recreation Center.

Oct. 1969 - Voters approve a $572,000 bond for the construction of an indoor swimming pool facility, Chehalem Aquatic Center.

1969 - Rene M. Moye is hired as superintendent.

April 1970 - Construction begins on the aquatics center.

Dec. 20, 1970 - Chehalem Aquatics Center opens. CPRD Administration Offices move into this building. Babe Nicklous Park is developed with an LCDC grant for $37,500.

1971 - Voters approve a three-year serial levy to operate the Aquatics Center.

1974 - Voters approve a second three-year serial levy to operate the Aquatics Center.

1968 - 1971 - Crabtree Park is improved through a $10,000 grant from LCDC.

Jan. 1971 - Superintendent Jimmy M. Kesey is hired.

Feb. 1972 - CPRD sells the Recreation Center to First Federal Savings and Loan for $37,500 and purchases the Assembly of God Church for $37,500.

1972 - CPRD purchases 28.5 acres for Ewing Young Historical Park through a LCDC grant and several donations, totaling $45,500.

Jan. 1977 - Jere S. Jackson is hired as superintendent.

1977-78 - Development continues on Hoover Park, Memorial Park, Babe Nicklous Pool Park and Crabtree Park thanks to matching Land and Water Conservations Fund grants.

May 1979 - CPRD purchases approximately five acres adjacent to Jaquith Park, thanks to a $76,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant.

June 1979 - Jaquith Park is dedicated. An EDA grant contributes $330,000 for its development. Senator Mark Hatfield attends.

Fall 1979 - Voters defeat a $3,950,000 bond for park, sports fields and facilities acquisition and development.

1979 - City of Dundee votes to annex a portion to CPRD.

Aug. 1982 - Voters approve a three-year tax rate serial levy.

1984 - Don Clements is hired as superintendent.

1985 - Voters approve a second three-year tax rate serial levy.

1987 - Jack and Winona Billick donate property adjacent to Dundee Park. Development begins on Dundee/Billick Park.

1987 - Development of Jaquith Park ballfields begins.

May 1988 - Voters defeat a tax base levy.

June 1988 - Voters approve a three-year tax rate serial levy.

June 1990 - Construction of tennis courts at Jaquith Park begin, thanks to a state grant.

May 1991 - Voters approve a second tax base levy.

1993 - CPRD purchases property for the development of a senior center and an adjacent adult sports complex.

1993 - Smurfitt Newsprint donates land adjacent to Ewing Young Historical Park.

1995 - The Adult Enrichment Center (AKA Chehalem Senior Center) opens.

1995 - CPRD purchases 189 acres for the construction of a public golf course.

1996 - Buckley Park opens.

1997 - Chehalem Armory opens. Property is acquired for Friends' Park.

1998 - Dundee River Park and Tom Gail Park are added.

1999  - Luis and Mary Brillas Park property agreement is entered into.

2000 - Falcon Crest Park is added.

2000 - Dundee Billick Park

2002 - Oak Knoll Tot Lot Park opens. 

2002 - CPRD Administrative Office relocates and opens on S. Elliott Road, and CPRD provides space for FISH to operate in this plaza.

2004 - Gladys Park opens.

2005 - Chehalem Glenn Golf course opens: features 6,836 yards of golf from the longest tees, for a par of 72. Designed by William G. Robinson

2014 - Voters pass a bond of approximately $20 million to construct and renovate Chehalem Aquatics and Fitness Center.

2015 - CPRD acquires Bob and Crystal Rilee Park property from Crystal Dawn Smith Rilee Foundation (more than 300 acres) in a combination of legacy donation (approx. $6 million) plus outright property purchase. 

Feb. 2017 - Longtime Dundee resident Janis Sander bequeaths her family farm property to CPRD in a legacy donation, to become Sander Estate (6. 7acres, appraisal value. $1,145,00). 

May 2018 - Chehalem Aquatic and Fitness Center open new aquatics center, featuring Jim McMaster Competition Pool and Lynne Patrick Meeting Room. Read detailed history here. 

Feb. 18, 2019 (Presidents’ Day) - Mark Martin Fitness Area opens inside Chehalem Aquatic and Fitness Center.   

Nov. 2020 - Friends' Park opens.        

2022 - City of Dundee conditionally approves the master plan for Sander Estate.

May 2023 - U.S. National Parks Service announced that it will award a $630,310 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant to develop Sander Estate Park in Dundee. 

May 2023 - Bob & Crystal Rilee Park Trails rolls out trail user designations for horses (west side) and bicycles (east).

Sept. 2023 - The Board approves Bob and Crystal Rilee Trails are to be exclusive to hikers (pedestrians/walkers) and equestrians/horseback riders. Bicycles are no longer permitted.