The park first became a reality in 1966 and its namesake is one of the most interesting civic leaders to ever reside in Newberg.

Scott Leavitt was born in 1879 in Elk Rapides, Mich.  In 1898, he fought in the Spanish-American War. In 1901, he moved to Oregon, became a farmer, and married Oregonian Elsie Frink. Elsie had two brothers and a sister who lived locally. The Leavitts visited here often and fell in love with Newberg. From 1901 to 1922, Scott worked as a school principal and later as a forest ranger in Oregon, Minnesota and Montana. In 1922, he was elected to Congress from Montana and served 10 years. In 1936, he was elected the national commander of the organization, United Spanish War Veterans.

Retiring in 1941, the Leavitts moved to Newberg, to a house on Hancock Street. It didn’t take long for Scott to become deeply involved in the life of this community. He joined the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce and the Newberg Garden Club.

When he passed away in October 1966 at age 87, he was chairman of the Newberg Park Board (now Chehalem Park and Recreation District).

Today at Scott Leavitt Park, enjoy a basketball court, playground equipment and picnic tables.