Willamalane Park and Recreation District maintains and operates five recreation facilities and 46 parks and natural areas, totaling more than 1,500 acres. Highlights include 10 waterfront areas, 29 miles of hiking and biking trails, 9 sports fields and 27 playgrounds. Willamalane offers hundreds of recreation programs to more than 60,000 patrons. Created by voters in 1944, Willamalane is a special tax district, separate from the city of Springfield, Oregon, with its own boundaries. It is governed by a five-member, elected board of directors and managed by a district superintendent. Willamalane offers:
Programs for Kids
Classes for all ages
Kids Club after-school care
Summer day camps and no-school day care
Swim lessons and play swims
Middle school sports program
Two50 youth center
Programs for Adults
Classes ranging from dog obedience to pottery, art, language, computing, music, history, cooking, outdoors, dance and a full range of fitness classes. Water fitness Adaptive recreation for adults with disabilities
Major Special Events
MEGGA Hunt, March or April, Lively Park
Children's Celebration, July, Island Park
Haunted Hayride, October, Dorris Ranch
Turkey Stuffer, November, Lively Park
Parks
32nd Street Community Sports Park, 400 S. 32nd St. Four lighted artificial turf sports fields and playground adjacent to Willamalane Center for Sports and Recreation.
Bluebelle Park, 50th Place & Bluebelle Way
Bob Artz Memorial Park, 7807 Thurston Road. Baseball/softball diamonds.
By-Gully Bike/Jog Path, Mill Street, Anderson Lane
Clearwater Park, Clearwater Lane. Boat landing, fishing.
, 205 Dorris St. Historic filbert orchards, trails, historic village with replica pioneer cabin, trapper's cabin and longhouse.
Douglas Gardens Park, 3455 S. Redwood Drive
Eastgate Woodlands/East Alton Baker Park, 512 Aspen St.
Gamebird Park, 1500 Mallard Ave.
Guy Lee Park, 890 Darlene Ave.
Harvest Landing, Harvest Lane
Island Park, 200 W. B St.
Jack B. Lively Memorial Park, 6100 Thurston Road. Picnic shelters, dog park, large playground, walking trail.
James Park, 4141 E. 19th Ave.
Jasper Meadows Park, 57th St.
Jesse Maine Memorial Park, South 69th Place
Kelly Butte Park/Overlook, 937 Summit Blvd.
Meadow Park, 851 Mill St.
Menlo Park, 1080 Cottonwood Ave.
Middle Fork Path, Clearwater Lane
Millrace Park, 200 S. Mill St.
Pacific Park, Shady Lane Dr.
Page Park, 1300 Hayden Bridge Road
Pride Park, 277 S. 34th St.
Quartz Park, 2300 S. 60th Ave.
Rob Adams Park, 890 MountainGate Drive
Robin Park, 2950 Wayside Loop
Royal Delle Park, 401 Blackstone St.
Thurston Park, 6329 F St./747 64th St.
Tyson Park, 3405 E St.
Volunteer Park, 4350 Mt. Vernon Road
Wallace M. Ruff Jr. Memorial Park, 66th Street. Magnolia arboretum.
West D Street Greenway, Aspen Street-Riverview Street
Willamalane Park, 1276 G St. Large playground. skate park.
Willamette Heights Park, 508 Valley View Ave.
William S. Fort Memorial Park, 300 58th St.
Facilities
Bob Keefer Center for Sports and Recreation, 250 S. 32nd St. Three hardwood basketball courts, a new Fitness Center, new sport courts, climbing wall, bouldering wall, indoor tennis, youth center.
Adult Activity Center, 215 W. C St. Computer center, wood shop, classrooms, stage and hundreds of programs aimed at adults 50 and older.
Splash! at Lively Park, 6100 Thurston Road. Indoor wave pool with waterslide, kiddie pool, lap pool, adult spa.
Willamalane Park Swim Center, 1276 G St. Competition lap pool, diving, warm-water pool with waterslide.
Camp Putt Adventure Golf Park, 4006 Franklin Blvd. (privately owned, but operated by Willamalane)
Two50 youth center, 250 S. 32nd St.
History
On Sept. 29, 1944, voters in Springfield, Oregon and approved a proposal to organize Oregon's second special-purpose park and recreation district. Much of this was due to the pioneering efforts of then Lane County District Attorney William S. Fort. Its first fiscal year began the following July with Willamalane having neither a budget nor property. The district was first formed to serve a population of only 3,800 people. By the close of the 1940s, Springfield, had doubled in size to approximately 3 square miles and a population of nearly 10,000.
1940s
Voters organize and pass a park and recreation district measure to encompass the Springfield and Maple School districts.