The Waterfront Community Park Association was formed in 2006 to support the development of a park on the Columbia River waterfront. We are doing this through community outreach, fund raising and co-operative work with public and private agencies. The WCPA is made up of a number of community members with varied talents and interests. You may contact us via e-mail or by sending a letter to WCPA, P.O. 1005 Hood River, Oregon 97031.

The City and Port have appointed a Park Development Committee (PDC) to make recommendations on the park's development, including park design, construction, maintenance and fundraising. The scope of work is outlined in the Hood River Port/City Interagency Agreement, signed on May 6, 2005. The PDC Final Report, which outlines many details of park development, can be viewed as a PDF document, by clicking here. (Please note: the document is 1.49 MB in size, and may take up to few minutes to download, depending on your connection speed.)

HISTORY

Since 1992, the Hood River Community has been envisioning and advocating for a Waterfront Park. Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District Master Plan adopted in 1998 identified a waterfront park as the top priority. The Port of Hood River donated the land for the park to the City of Hood River on January 24, 2006. Greenworks, Inc., the park designer, and the PDC presented 3 park designs and solicited public comments in February 2006. The Final Master Plan was unveiled March 16, 2006. The Port and City's governing Boards both approved the Final Master Plan in May of 2006. WCPA received $10,000 from the Oregon Investment Board in November 2006 for strategic planning and fundraising programs. In 2006 and 2007, the WCPA held several fund raisers and community events to create awareness and support for the Park Project. We reached out to the community, public and private agencies, individuals and corporations in this collaborative process. In the summer of 2007 the City of Hood River was awarded a $500,000 matching grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The WCPA worked hard to raise the required funds to match the grant. Digging begins in February 2008!!

"Our responsibility to future generations is to protect, enjoy, enhance, and pass on an excellent park system. We can afford what we want. We recall in special times when we stood briefly, but magnificently, united. In those times no prize was beyond our grasp. We must leave a legacy."
Reverend Dr. T. Allen Bethel, Pastor