Noble Woods Park
The 37-acre plot at 231st Avenue and Baseline represents one of Hillsboro’s oldest and largest forested areas. It is home to century-old cedars and firs, as well as abundant wildlife. In 1991, it was in imminent danger of development, which would have had a significant impact on the local ecosystem. However, thanks to the community’s efforts, this valuable natural space was preserved.
The property, now known as Noble Woods Park, was at the center of a $6.5 million park bond that was narrowly defeated in the November 1991 election. Passage of the bond measure would have enabled the acquisition and development of at least five new parks, as well as the purchase of a multipurpose park site. Failure, however, meant the wooded property would likely be cleared for tract home development.
Despite the initial setback at the ballot box, the community’s resounding outcry over the property’s future sparked an unprecedented fundraising campaign. The Hillsboro Community Foundation appealed to the property’s owners, the Charles Noble family, to postpone the sale and give the community a chance to raise the necessary funds for the purchase. With a daunting $1 million price tag, many believed the task was insurmountable. But the community’s resilience and determination proved otherwise.
The Nobles agreed to postpone the property’s sale and even offered a $200,000 discount if it was preserved as a public park. The City of Hillsboro contributed $400,000, leaving $400,000 to be raised from private funds.
This is where the community truly shone. Individuals, businesses, and organizations from all walks of life rallied together to support the preservation of the Noble property. The Hillsboro Community Foundation’s ‘553 Club’ secured donations, with members pledging $500 for the first year and $300 for each of the following five years. Businesses sponsored various promotions, from ‘Noble Burgers’ on the Reedville Café menu to a day’s sales totaling over $6,000 contributed by Midway Plant Farm. The largest single donation was a $50,000 contribution by Baker Rock Resources in memory of the company’s founder, Gary A. Baker, and the smallest was a 50-cent gift by 7-year-old John Grillo, who wanted to ‘save my woods.’
Enough money was collected to enable the City of Hillsboro to purchase the Noble Woods property in October 1992—almost one year after voters defeated the bond measure that would otherwise have protected the future of this valuable community asset. This success was not just a financial achievement but a testament to the power of community involvement. After years of additional fundraising, countless volunteer hours, and many needed improvements, Noble Woods Park was dedicated in 1998 to the community that saved it.
If you wish to support projects that improve and beautify parks, trails, open spaces, and recreational programs, click on this link to contribute to HCF’s Community Enhancement Fund today.