Parks Utility Fee

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It is no secret that a large part of what makes Tualatin a great place to live and work are the variety of wonderful parks. Our parks provide special gathering places for families, friends, community members, and even the occasional giant pumpkin to enjoy! The unique trails and tranquil green spaces meandering near the river and throughout town connect us to nature, improve environmental quality, and contribute to the overall well-being of the community. But these cherished spaces, like many things, require repairs, renovations, and replacements to keep them safe and accessible.

There is a significant need for renovation of and updates to a variety of features within our park system. The graph shows the current state of our parks based on an evaluation process called, asset scoring. The scoring ranks items from five to one; five being the life cycle end, safety hazard, and non-accessible and one being new, perfect condition, and fully accessible. This shows a there is a higher need for renovations and updates with in our park system.

To address this need, a dedicated park fee has been approved by your City Council to assure these cherished places remain and are restored for the community to enjoy. This $5 park fee will provide much-needed replacements, safety, equitable and accessible park updates for beloved amenities. It also allows you to be part of restoring the beauty of our parks and take part in caring for these cherished City spaces! For more information and answers to questions see the FAQ section at the bottom of this page or visit the video links below.   

 

Click below to watch more videos on what this fee covers

Obsolete Park Lighting System

Trail Accessibility 

Toppling BBQ Area

Frequently Asked Questions

There is a new park fee on my utility bill, why?

In April 2021, City Council approved a Parks Utility Fee to fund the management and maintenance of your City parks. Just as the water and sewer utility fee pays for the maintenance and upkeep of your water and sewer system; the parks fee will cover renovations, replacements, and sustainable repairs of your City parks. 

 

Category: Parks Utility Fee
Our parks are great, why do we need this fee?

The City’s parks maintenance team works hard to care for our parks and keep them looking great for the community to enjoy. Still, many of our park amenities have become old, obsolete and at the end of their life-cycle. Without the availability of replacement parts, they have become too difficult and costly to repair; some amenities have even been removed without replacement due to lack of funding. This fee will provide funding for replacements and other much-needed safety, equitable and accessible updates. 

Category: Parks Utility Fee
What will the fee pay for?

This fee will help protect all the wonderful park amenities you enjoy such as:

  • River access improvements
  • Accessibility  upgrades in compliance with the latest standards
  • Sport court surface repairs and preservation
  • Athletic field improvements
  • Trail and bridge natural area and greenway  enhancements 
  • System wide sustainability advancements
  • Playground repairs and accessibility updates
  • Park and plaza surface, path and trail replacements
Category: Parks Utility Fee
How will projects be determined?

Because there are many repairs and replacements needed throughout our park system, projects will be sequenced and prioritized based of the following criteria:

  • System Balance
  • Urgency & Immediacy
  • Ease of Implementation
  • Synergistic Benefits
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Operational Sustainability
  • Scale of Benefit
Category: Parks Utility Fee
Why are parks important?

Parks are vital to every community, they:

  • Connect us to nature
  • Improve health, wellness with abundant fitness opportunities
  • Create community-gathering places
  • Creates ecosystems that provide healthier air and cleaner water
Category: Parks Utility Fee
Are there other cities that have park utility fees?

Yes, other cities use a parks utility and charge a fee. Both nearby West Linn and Tigard charge a monthly residential park maintenance fee ranging from around $6 to over $15 a month.

Category: Parks Utility Fee
Where do I find answers to other billing questions?

Please visit the Utility Billing webpage

Category: Parks Utility Fee
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