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Trail System
Chehalem Heritage Trails will serve pedestrians, bicyclists, hikers, mountain
bikers, and equestrians, and will connect numerous historical areas and natural areas.
Primary trails run along major greenways - Willamette River; Hess Creek; Springbrook
Creek; and Chehalem Creek. The new trail system will eventually connect to the regional
trail systems that runs along the Willamette River from the Portland area via Champoeg
Park and from Willsonville to Corvallis. It will also connect to the trail system
that runs from Portland to the coast via Forest Grove, Hillsboro, and Beaverton.
The overall project also includes restoration of greenways, invasive species eradication,
restoration of native vegetation, water quality improvements, and improvements to
benefit native fish and other species. Additional benefits will be an increase in
tourism and economic development, safe routes for children to get to and from schools,
and improved health through access to recreational facilities.
Chehalem Park & Recreation District began developing a strategic plan for a Chehalem Heritage
Trail in early 2010, engaging stakeholders and partners
to identify opportunities, constraints, and issues for realizing the vision of a
70+ mile, multi-
use trail system in the Chehalem Valley. The trail system will link
parks, historical sites, schools, libraries and other public venues; the Willamette
River; and regional trails in the Newberg-Dundee area.
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Benefits
This network of interconnected multi-modal trails will provide multiple benefits to the community and to the region:
- Cultural opportunities
- Cultural opportunities
- Greenway restoration
- Historic preservation
- Multi-use recreation
- Neighborhood connectivity
- Open space conservation
- Tourism & economic development
- Wildlife habitat conservation
Chehalem Heritage Trails will provide a substantial link to the Williamette Greenway. Users are envisioned as walkers, cyclists, canoe and kayak paddlers, boaters, naturalists and equestrians.
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Topics
Major nodes are anticipated to include Champoeg Park, Roger's Landing, Ewing Young
Park, Ash Island, the Cultural Center, other parks and civic features in Dundee and
Newberg, and George Fox University. Interpretive theme topics include:
- Agriculture
- British & French Settlers
- Champoeg History
- Chehalem Valley
- Ewing Young
- Flora & Fauna
- Herbert Hoover
- The Northwest Fur Company
- Quakers
- Willamette Post
- Willamette River
- Wine Making
- Wood Products Industry
- Yamhelas Indians
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Conservation
This project also includes key conservation elements for 1,800 acres. The first conservation
component will restore native plant communities; remove invasive species; and improve
habitat structure and water quality for aquatic species. The trail system integrates
streams and other greenway corridors presenting the opportunity to restore terrestrial,
riparian, wetland, and aquatic habitats.
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Schedules
The Strategic Plan provided a conceptual trails system spanning 70+ miles in early
2010. CPRD developed the Phase I Master Plan from 2010 to 2012.
Phase I Master includes about 20 miles of trails
connecting Dundee to Newberg, paralleling lower and middle Hess Creek, and linking
Willamette River waterfronts in Newberg and Dundee.
Please check the News page for updates on meetings, and the Draft and Final Phase
I Master Plan. Design and construction could presumably proceed over a period of years
from 2011 to 2020, and perhaps beyond as grants and other funding sources are developed.
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