Porter Park Playground Replacement Project Begins

September 7, 2022 - The children’s playground at Porter Park, located at 1895 NW Hayes Ave., will be closed for construction starting on September 7 to receive much-needed replacement playground equipment. The closure is expected to last for approximately eight weeks, wrapping up in October.

Named after Fred J. Porter, the great-grandson of Benton County pioneer, Johnson Mulkey, Porter Park was purchased in 1969, and opened to the public in 1971. The playground equipment is more than four decades old and no longer meets today’s safety and accessibility requirements.

Former City Councilor now County Commissioner Nancy Wyse originally championed this project and helped the City of Corvallis Parks and Recreation Department successfully apply for and receive grant funds in 2020 from the State of Oregon to upgrade the playground. Current Ward 6 City Councilor Laurie Chaplen has continued to engage the adjacent neighborhood during the design selection process last year.

The new playground will have two separate structures with shade toppers geared towards different age groups: a smaller one for tots ages 2-5 and a larger structure for kids ages 5-12. New swings will also be installed, along with new surfacing of engineered wood fiber that meets current safety and accessibility standards. The design plans and project status updates can be viewed on the Parks & Recreation Department website.

Due to rising costs and a change in how the City can utilize Parks System Development Charges – fees collected from developers to help support increased demand on the parks system – additional funds were required to proceed with the project. The Kiwanis Club of Corvallis Sunrisers graciously donated $5,000 specifically to support the accessibility features of the new playground. The total cost of the project is approximately $200,000.

“The Porter Park neighborhood has been waiting a long time for this playground to be updated,” said Parks & Recreation Director Meredith Petit. “We are delighted that this time has come and hope that the entire community comes to enjoy it.”

For more information on this park project, contact Jackie Rochefort at Jacqueline.rochefort@corvallisoregon.gov or 541-766-6468.