Metro buys 1,143-acre Chehalem Ridge property for future park - Gaston, OR

[Tbiz]

"Straddling the top of Chehalem Ridge, the new natural area provides panoramic views of surrounding farmland and five Cascade mountain peaks: Rainier, St. Helens, Adams, Hood and Jefferson."

Check out the article at:
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=32140

[Fridgecat]

This recent acquistion caught my eye..I wonder if there's possibilities for a future DG course somewheres in the 1143 acres -although the below article indicates it's being purchased as a natural area, sounds like there might be room for other compatible recreational activities, DG for instance! Sounds like a cool place in any case.

Check out the article here:

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/with_a_6_million_purchase_on_c.html

[Adam Schneider]

I saw that article today and wondered the same thing. Guess there's no harm in contacting someone at Metro and finding out what the plans are.

[keith_shupp]

metro is all about naturel area I have tryed with them and there is no way they will lets us put disc golf in there plans. they have alot of land and even next to the Mt hood college and they want to preserve the land. about the only thing that goes into metro land is walking trails thats it.

[Matt B.]

metro is all about naturel area I have tryed with them and there is no way they will lets us put disc golf in there plans. they have alot of land and even next to the Mt hood college and they want to preserve the land. about the only thing that goes into metro land is walking trails thats it.

I love natural areas and believe more of them need to be preserved. I do think disc golf can in some cases be compatible with natural areas. Whether or not providing that type of recreational facility is part of Metro's mission scope I do not know. One of the people in charge of this project is a former boss of mine and I will drop him a line to see if disc golf or other active recreation besides hiking trails would ever be considered. I'll report back with what I find out.

[emmarose]

metro is all about naturel area I have tryed with them and there is no way they will lets us put disc golf in there plans. they have alot of land and even next to the Mt hood college and they want to preserve the land. about the only thing that goes into metro land is walking trails thats it.

I actually heard on NPR, maybe last week (?), that for the first year after this asquisition they were not going to be allowing public access, but then they would consider ways to allow the public to get recreational use from the land... I don't think we should give up so easily... especially with the expansion of the lake happening (eventually... who knows when... but it will eventually happen... and the golf course, as well as my mother's home, may end up being partially underwater... :( ). I don't know as much as some people, I suppose, but I do remember feeling hopeful for another golf course after hearing about it on NPR...

peace threw disc golf,
emmarose

[keith_shupp]

I actually heard on NPR, maybe last week (?), that for the first year after this asquisition they were not going to be allowing public access, but then they would consider ways to allow the public to get recreational use from the land... I don't think we should give up so easily... especially with the expansion of the lake happening (eventually... who knows when... but it will eventually happen... and the golf course, as well as my mother's home, may end up being partially underwater... :( ). I don't know as much as some people, I suppose, but I do remember feeling hopeful for another golf course after hearing about it on NPR...

peace threw disc golf,
emmarose

Im not saying give up I have tryed with metro by MHCC and they said no way to disc golf. Metro was created to preserve the land and wild life in the area. They seem to pick land that is by streams and wet lands which wet land area,s fall under federal protection laws and the only thing that goes in those areas is walking trails and viewing area. All you can do is ask and hope you get a yes.

[emmarose]

Im not saying give up I have tryed with metro by MHCC and they said no way to disc golf. Metro was created to preserve the land and wild life in the area. They seem to pick land that is by streams and wet lands which wet land area,s fall under federal protection laws and the only thing that goes in those areas is walking trails and viewing area. All you can do is ask and hope you get a yes.

hmmm... boo for metro... but yay for preserving wildlife and wetlands I suppose...

peace,
em

[Adam Schneider]

If a parcel of land is close to urban areas (or even if it's not), one way to argue for disc golf would be to say, "who do you want using that land: disc golfers throwing plastic around or transients setting up camps?"

The only problem is that sometimes disc golfers leave as much garbage as the bums.

[Takkunen]

A lot of the property that Metro buys doesn't get developed whatsoever, not even trails. For the most part their approach seems to be strictly restoration followed by leaving it as greenspace to preserve the particular watershed that they're targeting. I'd like to think they would make an exception given the size of this acquisition but I doubt it. Can't hurt to try.

[Adam Schneider]

Metro does all kinds of things... they're building a ball-golf facility in Fairview! http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=22197

[Scott]

Metro does all kinds of things... they're building a ball-golf facility in Fairview! http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=22197

Very true.

They also manage some well known developed parks such as Oxbow and Blue Lake Park. Speaking of which, have either of those been scouted for DG?

[Adam Schneider]

I've been to Blue Lake Park, and that place is a madhouse on summer days, because lakes are so rare in the Portland area. I can't imagine there's any way disc golf could fit in with all the picnics and such.

[Takkunen]

Metro does all kinds of things... they're building a ball-golf facility in Fairview! http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=22197

True, but that's at an established park where visitors are encouraged (Blue Lake, right?) vs. an area they purchased with natural area in mind. I suppose Oxbow and Blue Lake might once have been natural areas though!

[Adam Schneider]

It's clear from reading documents on Metro's Web site (http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id/32117) that the Chehalem Ridge property will not be left untouched -- at least not all of it. They're definitely planning trails, and the phrases "public access" and "recreation" are prominent. The question will be just how much.

[Takkunen]

Maybe like Cooper Mountain.

[keith_shupp]

All you can do is just ask and see what they say. I have work with Oregon state parks for over 11 years and at first they said no then after the milo meeting back when it was only 9 holes they said hay we have other parks can you look at them. Thats how we got Dabney and rooster rock and they are in a federal protected area.

I have played at Oxbow park and even have a course map that was layed out about 15 years ago. Oxbow and blue lake are county parks and they did not want to put disc golf in or anything new because they are well used parks. During the summer they are way to busy to even think about a course.

Anything to do with Mult. county is a real pain and moves slower than any parks department that I have delt with over the last 25 years. the county is whats holding up putting in the MHCC course because they want a paved parking lot plus if you put a lot in then they want side walks to go next to the lot. Were talking a $100 thousand just to get parking going plus they have to many impact study,s that have to be done and payed for so I say go a head and ask but it would be more worth while to work with state or city parks than to ask the county.