NEWBERG, Ore. — The Chehalem Parks and Recreation District Board of Directors met April 23 for a session that stretched more than four hours, covering a feasibility study for a new golf course clubhouse, a public comment period over Bob and Crystal Rilee Park, and a vote to dissolve the district’s trails advisory committee.
Golf Clubhouse Feasibility Study
The board received a presentation from consultants Gary Gola of Anchor Moison and economist Jerry Johnson of Johnson Economics on a feasibility study for a new clubhouse at Chehalem Glenn Golf Course. The study, authorized in 2025, examined three design concepts before settling on a mid-scale option sited on the current practice green.
The proposed building would include a restaurant and bar area with approximately 30 indoor seats and an 18-seat second-level deck, a roughly 2,000-square-foot event pavilion, a cart barn, and a covered 10-bay driving range extension. About 60 additional parking spaces would also be added. The design draws on a Pacific Northwest agricultural aesthetic with contemporary finishes.
Johnson told the board the project would likely require a revenue bond of $8 million to $10 million, and that bond underwriters would need to see a credible revenue plan before approval. He did not recommend adding a proposed third nine holes to the golf course, saying the added operational and capital costs would likely erode financial performance rather than improve it.
“Our finding was the third nine is not actually something we’d recommend,” Johnson said. “I think when we first envisioned the idea, there would be a lot of economies of scale because of existing equipment and crews … In reality, what we find is its going to have less rounds than the other two nines and the marginal cost of building and operating that nine is not significantly different.”
Board members asked questions about staffing, kitchen operations, pro shop revenue potential, and whether a third-party food and beverage operator would be brought in.
Superintendent Clay Downing said two final deliverables remain — a cost estimate from Walsh Construction and Johnson’s completed economic report — and indicated the full package would likely come before the board no earlier than June. A public information session is also planned before a final board vote.
Bob & Crystal Rilee Park Public Comment
More than a dozen community members testified for nearly an hour on the question of whether to allow mountain biking at Bob and Crystal Rilee Park, which has been restricted to hikers and equestrians since a 2023 board decision. Speakers cited safety concerns around horses and vulnerable users, the wishes of the park’s donors, and past failed attempts at shared use.
Cycling advocates also spoke, arguing that district surveys show strong demand for off-road riding and that the cycling community represents a larger user group than equestrians. Several speakers pointed to a proposed riverfront mountain bike facility — available at a reported $1-per-year lease — as a preferable alternative to Bob and Crystal Rilee Park.
The board received a substantial written correspondence addendum, Addendum B, containing letters from more than two dozen community members, the vast majority opposing mountain bike access. The board is awaiting a study from C2 Consulting, which is reviewing properties within the district that could support mountain biking facilities. The study is expected by the June 25 board of directors meeting, Downing said.
Trails Advisory Committee Dissolved
The board voted 4-1 to dissolve the Chehalem Heritage Trails Citizens’ Advisory Committee, which had lost a majority of its members in recent months.
Downing told the board that of the three remaining members, two indicated they would continue serving only with clear direction, while the third recommended dissolution. Several board members expressed skepticism about the standing committee structure generally, favoring informal volunteer and focus groups over bodies subject to Oregon’s open meetings law.
Board member Brandon Slyter, who served as the board liaison to the committee, said the remaining members would be willing to continue only if the board had a project or direction for them. Board members agreed they did not have a direction or pending project at this time, and proceeded to vote to dissolve the committee. Director Matthew Smith cast the lone dissenting vote.
Other Business
Staff reported that CPRD appears to be the recipient of a nearly $991,000 Business Oregon child care infrastructure program grant for improvements at Bonnie Benedict Community Center, pending a formal award letter.
The district is awaiting the formal award letter before announcing the grant, which would go toward renovating the building. Bonnie Benedict Preschool, located at 504 E. 2nd St., closed in 2025 due to dwindling enrollment and the condition of the physical building.
The board also heard a 10-minute presentation from Chehalem Valley BMX, which outlined more than $150,000 in community-funded improvements to its track at Jaquith Park and described ongoing needs, including lighting at an estimated cost of $170,000.
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 28.
