Current Projects

If you would like to receive email updates and notices for a particular project, please visit the project webpage and join the project’s email list. If you are a nearby or adjacent neighbor to the project, you will likely receive public meeting and/or construction notices in the mail for the development project. Throughout the life of a project, we also continue to post updates and ways to get involved on each project webpage.

NCPRD reaches out to local community members surrounding developing parks to engage the public throughout the park planning and development process. We use a variety of different communication tools and strategies to inform and engage community members, such as mail, social media, signs, email lists, local partners, and more. The level of outreach is often scaled to the size and complexity of the project, and impact to the surrounding area.

The development of park properties and trail connections is decided based on a variety of factors including prioritization of underserved and high-need areas, funding and grant availability, site readiness, the number of district residents served in an area, transportation access, and more. It is important to note that NCPRD has had the same permanent tax rate of $0.54 per $1,000 since its formation in 1990, while costs have continued to increase. NCPRD has never passed a bond measure to fund new parks and facilities. Learn more about NCPRD financial information.

With limited funding, our current efforts in park development prioritize improving levels of service in the most underserved areas of the district. Prioritized areas are identified based on each neighborhood’s level of need, access, barriers or limitations in an area, and population density. Areas within our district with separate sources of funding and staff resources, like the City of Milwaukie, have also undertaken and funded their own park development and improvements to expand offerings within those geographies. Learn more about identified priority areas in the NCPRD System Plan.

Land availability in fully developed areas within our district is scarce. NCPRD makes an effort to purchase property when it becomes available in areas of the district that align with long-term strategic growth planning efforts, as outlined in NCPRD’s System Plan. If NCPRD does not have the funds to fully develop the property, the advanced purchase helps ensure that NCPRD can preserve the space to serve patrons in that area in the future. NCPRD purchases the land primarily using System Development Charges (SDCs).

Parks System Development Charges (SDCs) are one-time fees charged to new development or significant redevelopment in order to expand the parks and recreation facility capacity within a designated SDC zone. These fees are charged at the time of development for residential and commercial properties within the district’s boundary and can only be used by the district for the acquisition of land or substantial park or facility improvements. SDCs cannot be used by the district for park operations and maintenance, or for programs and services.