Renne Field to be Renovated in 2025

In a joint effort between the Newberg-Dundee Public Schools (NDPS) and Chehalem Parks and Recreation Department (CPRD), the park at Renne Field is slated to soon be renovated in the summer of 2025, according to a press release from NDPS.

“I believe this park is a big deal—especially for that side of town that desperately needs good parks,” said CPRD Board President Matthew Smith, “and for turf, which we don’t have enough of in our area, especially for spring youth sports programs when grass fields are insufficient, too wet, and unsafe.”

The nearly 14-acre park next to Edwards Elementary on the corner of E 6th Street and S Blaine Street currently has a natural grass field with two goal posts and a natural surface track around the exterior of the field. The south side of the field has two baseball diamonds.

The field hosts Newberg High School (NHS) rugby team, as well as youth soccer and baseball programs.

The renovation will replace the grass football field with artificial turf, providing space and markings for soccer, football, lacrosse, and other field sports.

The track will be refinished with an eight-lane synthetic track, and the space around the field and track will house a concession stand, restrooms, and an ADA-compliant pathway and lighting, according to the press release. Areas around the track will have space for field events like shot put and javelin.

The tennis court area that is east of the field will be repurposed into tennis and pickleball courts as well.

Renovating the park is estimated to cost around $1.5 million. NDPS secured $750 thousand from Oregon Administrative Services, and CPRD agreed to provide the other $750 thousand to fund the project. NDPS owns the land, while CPRD maintains the land.

“The fact that both our boards were able to come together and form an agreement for such a large project shows the special relationship between CPRD and the school district,” Smith said. “It illustrates two of my priorities when I ran for this position; work with all stakeholders in our district to get things done, and rehab some of our older inner city existing parks.”

CPRD and NDPS is hosting a community public forum at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 18 at the School District Office (714 E Sixth St, Newberg, OR 97132) to share more information about the project and solicit community feedback. For more information, visit CPRD’s information page.