Parks Management

A view of Elk Rock Island at sunset on the shore of the Willamette River in Milwaukie Bay Park

City Council has asked staff to explore withdrawing from the North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District (NCPRD). Milwaukie is in a period of significant growth, and parks are an essential part of both fulfilling the Community Vision Plan and enhancing the city’s core goals of equity, sustainability and livability. With Milwaukie already building most of its own parks and NCPRD’s District Advisory Board repeatedly stalling the Milwaukie Bay Park project, City Council concluded it is time to take control of Milwaukie’s parks. This will provide residents with a more active role in decision-making for parks maintenance and development.

Over the next several years, Milwaukie anticipates an 18% growth rate in housing units—most of these will be in multi-family complexes. In 2017, the city had 9,248 individual housing units and, by 2025, the city is projected to have 10,885 individual units. There are currently 10 housing projects in development estimated to add 1,657 units alone. With this growth in mind, City Council determined it is important to establish more effective, local management of Milwaukie’s parks and natural areas to ensure the community flourishes moving forward.

The existing intergovernmental agreement states NCPRD is responsible for the development and maintenance of Milwaukie’s parks. The city owns the park land. Recently, using a combination of grants and general property taxes, the city has been the primary developer of new parks in Milwaukie, which includes phases 1 and 2 of Milwaukie Bay Park, Ball-Michel Park, Homewood Park, Spring Park and the Kronberg Multi-Use Trail. With the leadership of Sen. Kathleen Taylor and Rep. Karin Power, the city secured funding for and is currently leading the development of Balfour and Bowman-Brae Parks, as well as the redevelopment of Scott Park. Additionally, the redevelopment of Dogwood Park is already included in the city’s current capital improvement plan and scheduled to begin in 2025.

For more information, contact Peter Passarelli, public works director, at 503.786.7614 or passarellip@milwaukieoregon.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns the parks in Milwaukie?

The City of Milwaukie owns all of the parks within the city limits, including the majority of the land within North Clackamas Park. The city also owns the Milwaukie Community Center.

Category: Parks Management
Who makes decisions about Milwaukie’s parks right now?

NCPRD’s board is the Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners, none of whom live in Milwaukie. The District Advisory Committee is made up of 11 members, with two individuals representing the City of Milwaukie portion of NCPRD. They advise the Board of County Commissioners, but do not control NCPRD’s budget or priorities.

Category: Parks Management
When would the city officially withdraw from NCPRD?

City Council is currently exploring the feasibility of leaving the district on July 1, 2023.

Category: Parks Management
Would Milwaukie residents still be able to use facilities within NCPRD?

Yes. All NCPRD programs are open to anyone outside of the district at slightly higher rates. The city is seeking an agreement with NCPRD, however, to allow residents access to the North Clackamas Aquatic Center at the same rate as those living within the district. This agreement would also allow Milwaukie residents to have continued access to sports and recreational programing provided by NCPRD at the North Clackamas Park sports fields and Milwaukie Community Center on the same terms as residents within the NCPRD boundary.

Category: Parks Management
How many acres of land should the city have based on similarly-sized cities?

The amount of recommended parks space varies depending on the needs the community, however, Oregon’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan recommends between 6.25 and 13.5 acres of public park land per 1,000 residents. Currently, Milwaukie has approximately 4 acres per 1,000 residents and the city would explore increasing that amount based on current and projected growth. This is in comparison to West Linn with 20.5 acres per 1,000 residents, Tualatin with 11.48 acres per 1,000 residents, Tigard with 10.3 acres per 1000 residents, Oregon City with 8.9 acres per 1,000 residents and Happy Valley with 4.8 acres per 1,000 residents.

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Would leaving NCPRD disrupt any ongoing or future projects?

Funding for the Balfour, Bowman-Brae and Scott Park projects is already secured and NCPRD is not involved with their construction. Additionally, the construction of Dogwood Park has already been included in the city’s capital improvement plan. 

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What about the Milwaukie Bay Park project?

Milwaukie has spent millions of dollars over the past two decades purchasing the land that has become Milwaukie Bay Park. By 2015, the city planned and completed phases 1 and 2 of the park and, in 2017, NCPRD initiated a new master plan. NCPRD’s redesign is priced at approximately $8 million. The city has previously committed $250,000 from its general fund, $750,000 in Metro Share funds, and $600,000 in urban renewal funding towards the project. NCPRD has secured grants for most of the remaining costs. The Board of County Commissioners has made NCPRD’s completion of the park contingent upon the city agreeing to a new master intergovernmental agreement that would remove the city’s ability to leave NCPRD—a right the city has had since the creation of the district in 1990. Should the city form a new department, Milwaukie will prioritize the project for completion and seek to negotiate the transfer of the grant funds secured by NCPRD for the construction of Milwaukie Bay Park to the City of Milwaukie.

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Would the city need to hire staff or contract for park services if it leaves NCPRD?

In the event the city leaves NCPRD, it would likely hire a few staff members for parks maintenance and/or contract for this type of service.

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What level of service changes can the residents expect?

Residents can expect the level of maintenance in parks and natural areas to remain the same or improve. The city intends to negotiate recreational programming and use of recreational programming space to avoid disruptions of service.

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If the city withdraws from NCPRD, can I get a skatepark?

The city will need to create a new master plan for its parks to guide the future development and design of Milwaukie’s parks. A more in-depth conversation about future amenities is important and the community will have many opportunities to give input. The city knows features, such as skate parks, splash pads, pickleball courts, a larger community center and swimming pools, are desired.

Category: Parks Management