DUNDEE, Ore. — On Wednesday, Aug. 13, Chehalem Park and Recreation District broke ground on the Sander Estate, beginning work to transform the 6.7-acre property on Fifth Street into a community park.
“It was such a good day for [land donor Jan Sander] emotionally after she went to the dedication and ceremony,” said John Kester, Sander’s close friend and trustee. “It did mean a lot to her that something was actually beginning. It’s been a long road.”
Get These Stories First, Right in your Inbox
We send out a FREE weekly newsletter featuring the previous week’s biggest stories, upcoming events, and other local happenings. Our email newsletter is the first to know!
Dundee resident Janis “Jan” Sander first approached the district in 2008 about donating the land, according to CPRD Board President Jim McMaster. At the time, McMaster was the district’s parks supervisor and project manager. The estate includes a home, farmhouse, barn, and a variety of fruit and nut trees.
Kester said Sander and her family envisioned the land being donated “for the citizens of Dundee,” a phrase she often used when describing the future park.
Sander, now 94, lives in a memory care facility. Kester drives her to medical appointments and often takes her past the property to check for progress. For years, there was none.
“It’s been years we’ve been driving by the park to see if anything has started,” he said. “So now to finally be able to drive by and see work done, it’s going to be very exciting. She’s already asking me where I think they’ll start and what will be done first.”
Sander donated half of the estate to CPRD in 2017. The Chehalem Park Foundation helped purchase the other half to secure the full property.
Since then, CPRD has worked with neighbors, the city of Dundee, and the broader community to shape the park’s vision. Public surveys, open houses, and design sessions have guided plans for walking paths, gardens, a playground, splash pad, water features, and open spaces.
The master plan was developed by Portland-based Scott Edwards Architecture, the same firm behind the Chehalem Cultural Center and Aquatic and Fitness Center. Funding has come from multiple sources, including a $630,310 Land and Water Conservation Fund matching grant from the National Park Service in 2023.
Development has been years in the making. Milestones include community meetings in 2018, removal of walnut and blighted filbert trees in 2019, and public hearings in 2020 and 2022. Most recently, a design for the splash pad was approved in April 2024.
“This project was unnecessarily delayed due to bureaucrats and elected officials who were litigating and squabbling over past issues and were holding this project hostage,” said CPRD Board Director Matt Smith. “Our CPRD board and staff joined with the newly elected mayor and council members in Dundee to change that direction and work together going forward. This is precisely what the taxpayers elect us to do, and I can proudly say we are stepping up and doing what we were elected to do.”
At a special meeting July 17, the CPRD board awarded the bid for Phase 1 development to Saunders Co. for just over $3 million. Phase 1 will include the open lawn, ornamental gardens, splash pad, play area, public restrooms, and a parking lot. Phase 2 will add features such as a reception hall, plaza, and water feature.
“The park district has worked on this project through several different boards of directors, city councilors, city managers, COVID, and the list goes on,” McMaster said. “When I first came on the board in 2021, this project was my number one capital project priority. Jan deserved to see this happen, and I am so pleased we were able to share the groundbreaking event with her in attendance.”
CPRD Superintendent Clay Downing said the district hopes to complete Phase 1 construction by spring or summer 2026.
“We’re really excited about breaking ground, and we’re really hoping that we don’t have too many delays as we go through Phase 1 — fingers crossed,” he said. “But now, we’re starting construction, and the tough part is getting here.”
Smith, a Dundee resident, said he is excited to see the centrally located park take shape as a place for play, community events, and gatherings such as the Dundee Friday Night Market and Dundee Country Holiday Market.
“Dundee is a unique community that shares a lot with Newberg, but also has its own character and culture,” Smith said. “They have been wanting a park to call their own for some time. Their desire for a location for a farmers market and a public meeting space centrally located fits with the vision of Sander Estate perfectly. I am proud that Dundee City Council and the CPRD board and staff were able to come together and deliver this to the community of Dundee.”
More information and updates on Sander Estate Park are available on the CPRD website.
Correction Aug. 20 at 3:45 p.m.: The original article misspelled John Kester’s name (Kessler) and stated Jan Sander is 84 years old. Sander is 94 years old. Newsberg regrets the error.
