Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC Board says ?yes' to agreement with Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District for facility

Photos and story by James Hill

ROCK CREEK CAMPUS – At its Thursday, Sept. 11 meeting, the Portland Community College Board of Directors unanimously voted (7-0) to approve an agreement with the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District (THPRD).The agreement allows PCC and THPRD to work together to develop a recreational facility on approximately 25 acres of land that PCC owns east of the Rock Creek Campus. The park district would develop and operate the facility and PCC would be able to use it for its classes. The development would include recreational sports fields, including soccer and softball fields, tennis courts, a community garden space , parking and the required infrastructure needs. Future possibilities at the site include the addition of an aquatic center."The agreement between PCC and THPRD is a good example of two public agencies working together to enhance services to their constituents in a way that neither one could have done on their own,"said Bill Christopher, executive dean of the Rock Creek Campus. "PCC would not have been able to expend the resources necessary to develop the site for our student use and THPRD did not have the land to provide these resources to the residents of its districts. This agreement creates a win-win situation with the ultimate beneficiaries being the PCC students and the residents of THPRD’s service area."Christopher said the PCC Master Plan first referenced a sports facility on the Rock Creek Campus in 1984. Lack of funds and other priorities prevented the implementation of these ideas. The partnership won’t increase PCC’s operational costs, or have an adverse affect on the 2000-construction bond program or educational work at the college. The park district would also bear all costs associated with developing the project, including design, construction, operation and maintenance.Karen McKinney, a PCC board director who represents western Washington County, said the project and facilities "will serve PCC very well."Randy McEwen, PCC vice president for Administrative Services, said "the agreement authorizes each of the agencies to work together and defines how they will work together to bring the facility to fruition."He said the permits, design and project development is a two-year process, the construction another two years, which provides for a 2007 completion date. The PCC board first reviewed a comprehensive proposal in January and directed PCC staff to work with the park district to develop an intergovernmental and master development agreement. Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon, serving more than 100,000 students at three comprehensive campuses, four workforce training centers and more than 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area.