A long-awaited revamp of the old Cedar Ridge Middle School (CRMS) campus
is finally underway. Through Thursday, March 9, the City of Sandy will ask
area residents to contribute input on developing a new park and recreational
facility in downtown Sandy through an online survey.

Sandy Parks and Recreation Director Rochelle Anderholm-Parsch stressed the
importance of getting feedback on what the public wants out of the property.
“We would love to hear about how [community members] want to get in there
and use that space,” she said.

Following the relocation of CRMS to the campus of the old Sandy High School
building on Bluff Road, the city purchased the ten-acre property from the
Oregon Trail School District in 2016 with plans to convert it into a hub for
community and recreation. This vision is set to become a reality in early 2025
when construction is anticipated to be complete.

Until March 9, Sandy’s Parks and Recreation department will host an online
survey where locals can contribute ideas for the property. Previous feedback
has sparked interest in developing a new skate park, bicycle pump track,
permanent restrooms and picnic shelters.

Anderholm-Parsch also clarified that the city hopes to see more input from the
younger demographic to cater the design of the campus toward more
people. Currently, the campus is in the early stages of development and a
concrete plan and budget have not yet been created. The city’s 2022 Parks
Master Plan did indicate a need for a new park development in the northeast
sector of Sandy – something that was anticipated at the site’s purchase in
2016.

Funding for the project will be pulled from leftover funds from the property
purchase, a fund comprised of development fees paid to the city that is
earmarked for park development and an expected grant from the Oregon
Parks and Recreation Department.

As far as the rest of the CRMS property, the city won’t rush to renovate. The
Olin Y. Bignall Aquatic Center has been deemed too dilapidated to feasibly
repair and will require complete rebuilding in the event that the community
desires an aquatic center.

Other buildings on the property are being occupied by SandyNet and are not
currently on the docket for rebuilding.

As the city continues to finalize the plan for the community campus, they will
seek more feedback and publish information.

More details can be found on the city’s parks and recreation website at
www.ci.sandy.or.us/parks-rec.