Hillside Park Sports Field Renovation

Parks
Completed
Hillside Park’s grass athletic field will be closed from August 27, 2018, through March 1, 2019, while undergoing much-needed renovation.
Hillside Park

Project Updates

April 4, 2019

The Hillside Sports Field has ongoing maintenance and continued efforts to assist with the health of the grass. Steps include: rolling of the field, continued seeding, fertilizing and mowing. Patience and limiting use is greatly appreciated.

March 19, 2019

The Hillside sports field will open as planned on April 1, for permitted use. The field looks very good and the grass has filled in nicely. Weather conditions will continue to affect use, and we will keep the current signage in place for the next two weeks. The ballfields crew is taking down the fence this week and will mow the new grass with light weight equipment. Seeding and fertilization is planned over the next week. 

We look forward to seeing this renovated field back in use for the neighborhood.


Project Overview

Hillside Park’s grass athletic field will be closed from August 27, 2018, through March 1, 2019, while undergoing much-needed renovation. The project involves removal of the existing soccer goals, concrete, artificial turf surfaces, and crumb rubber fill. The existing 160’ x 90’ field will then be leveled, with soil additions to repair and fill holes. Irrigation repairs will be completed followed by re-seeding and fertilization. Once the major project work is completed, the field will remain closed for the next 7 1/2 months, thus allowing time for the newly applied grass seed to germinate, grow, and mature throughout the fall, winter, and spring.

Permitted park activities such as fall youth soccer practices will be relocated to alternate locations, such as Wallace Park or Chapman Elementary. Casual and drop-In users will have access to the Hillside playground, tennis courts, and grass areas bordering the sports field.


Project Schedule

Summer and Fall 2018

August 27-31
Project begins – removal of synthetic turf, goal, and concrete.

September 4-14
Field leveling, turf and irrigation maintenance, soil addition, grass seeding and fertilization.

Fall 2018 through Spring 2019

September 17-March 31
Field Rest:  Grass germination, growth, and maturation


Project Background

Hillside Park and Community Center have a long history of providing needed recreational opportunities to the Hillside neighborhood. Operating as part of Portland Parks & Recreation since 1974, the grass field at Hillside Park sees enormous use from a variety of users including sports teams, community center programs, and more casual, drop-in non-structured activities. The field is showing obvious signs of extreme over-use.

The project timeline allows for completion of Hillside Community Center’s summer youth activities. Late summer is the best time for heavy equipment vehicles to access the field without creating additional damage to the area. While this project may seem inconvenient in some respects, the efforts and investment by the athletic field maintenance team will result in a much-improved grass field for the neighborhood and local sports teams by 2019.


Project Co-Managers

Karen Aker, Sports Management Supervisor
karen.aker@portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-5125

Shawn Lindsey, Athletic Field Maintenance Supervisor
shawn.lindsey@portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-1621

Kristine Canham, Hillside Community Center Director
kristine.canham@portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-3181

Contact

Neighborhood