Landscaped public use areas in industrial/commercial areas

Scenic overlooks

Play areas adjacent to downtown shopping districts

Mini-parks are generally between 2,500 square feet and one acre in size. However, any park area less than five acres could technically be considered a mini-park. The service area for a mini-park is roughly one-quarter of a mile radius. Wait Park , Arneson Garden , and Locust Street Park are classified as mini-parks. The Nineteenth Avenue Loop undeveloped site will also become a mini-park.

Neighborhood Park

Neighborhood parks are considered the basic unit of a park system and serve as the recreational and social focus of a neighborhood. Typically, they are developed for passive and active recreation, and accommodate a large variety of user types. Uses include:

Sports
Play Areas
People Watching
Picnicking
Trails

According to NRPA, five acres is the minimum size for neighborhood parks; seven to ten acres is considered optimal. Neighborhood parks should be centrally located in a service area of one-quarter to one-half mile. Maple Street Park is classified as a neighborhood park, and 13^th Avenue Park will be developed as a neighborhood park.

Community Park

The focus of a community park is on meeting community-based needs, as well as preserving unique landscapes and open spaces. They are larger in size and serve a broader purpose than neighborhood parks. Uses of community parks are both passive and active, including:

Informal and unstructured recreation
Trails
Picnic/sitting areas
Natural study areas and facilities for cultural activities

The optimal size for these parks is between 20 and 50 acres; however, the actual size should be based on the land area needed to accommodate the desired uses. Typically, community parks serve two or more neighborhoods and have a service area of one-half to three miles in radius. Canby Community Park and the undeveloped Eco Park are classified as a community parks.  

The Canby Regional Park will eventually be considered a community park, although it will take some time before it is completed. As of August 2000, the parking area and skate park are completed, while the rest of the park has no completion date, as no further construction can proceed until funding is available.

City of Canby Park and Recreation Facilities

The City of Canby provides the following park and recreation facilities for area residents:

When inventorying these sites, CPW examined a number of factors, including park and recreation amenities, surrounding uses and accessibility. Our inventory was based on NRPA guidelines, and interviews with city staff.

Arneson Garden is one of the new additions to the Canby parks system. It was established in May 1999 and is a 1.8-acre park located behind the Fred Meyer store near the Logging Road Trail. It is planted with several native and hybrid species amongst a stand of Douglas Firs. The land for the public garden came originally from the Arnesons', world-renowned azalea hybridizers, and the garden celebrates the azalea. The horticultural park is primarily a large planting bed with trails and numerous benches.

Arneson Garden sits in an industrial and commercial area. It sees limited use because it was only recently completed, is hidden by Fred Meyer’s and is relatively isolated from other parks and housing developments. There is ample parking at the Fred Meyer, although there is no water or restrooms available in the park. The vision for this park is to provide workers in the commercial and industrial areas a place to recreate during breaks and lunches, as well as to function as a horticultural park with an interpretive aspect.

Arneson Garden has a well-established entrance that includes a brick iron gate. It is neat in appearance and is well defined. It also has a park legend that lists some of the species of plants in the garden and a brief history of the park.

Wait Park

Wait Park is a 2-acre mini-park encompassing one city block in downtown Canby. Although Wait Park was identified under the 1991 Park Master Plan as a neighborhood park, we find it more accurately fits into the mini-park classification, due to its unique location, small size and limited use.  

Wait Park is situated amongst churches, the library, residences and businesses. It is characterized by a traditional style of design typical of a town square. It contains well-manicured symmetrical lawns and walkways, a gazebo, benches and two play areas. The gazebo is the focal point of the park, and is the center of many community festivals and celebrations.    

The landscape is neat in appearance. While the turf, shrubbery and trees are in good condition, there are a few bare areas in shrubbery beds and where turf is shaded.  

There is on-street parallel parking surrounding the park. Additional on-street parking is available on nearby streets. While no disabled parking is specified, curb cuts and paved walkways throughout the park allow for moderate disabled access. Bicycles and skateboards are not allowed within the park.

19th Avenue Loop (Undeveloped)  

19^th Avenue Loop Park is a 1.8-acre undeveloped park site located adjacent to a new development overlooking the Willow Creek Wetlands. Currently, it is an open space park, with few amenities other than its natural setting. It is used primarily by the nearby residents. Park maintenance staff have provided a couple of picnic tables.  

Currently, the site requires very little maintenance. It is mowed twice a year and any debris from the upland wooded areas is cleared periodically. Any future development may include trail improvements, benches,and directional or interpretive signs for the passive enjoyment of nature, and viewing of the Willow Creek Wetland.

Willow Creek Wetland (Protected open space)

This 4.6-acre area is located south of Territorial Road and Redwood Street . This undeveloped wetland area is adjacent to residential development and was acquired by the City in 1995.  

Because of the passive nature of this site, very little maintenance is required. Any future development would include directional or interpretive signs for the passive enjoyment of nature, and possibly a bench or two.  

Locust Street Park  

Locust Street Park, developed in 1995, is a 1-acre mini park located in the central southeast neighborhood of Canby. The park is situated amongst multi-family housing and modest single-family dwellings. While Locust Street Park is designed for neighborhood use, it can only be accessed along Locust Street because three sides of the park are fenced and hedged. A recessed parking area, large enough for two cars, exists along Locust Street . The entire park, including the play area, is accessible to the physically disabled.  

The park entrance, play areas and rest rooms provide adequate and appropriate signage. The infrastructure exists for low maintenance plantings, currently absent. Since the park is relatively new, the trees and plantings are young and sparse. However, the turf is in excellent condition. The park has an automatic irrigation system.  

Maple Street Park and the Marshall House  

Maple Street Park is a nine-acre park located north of the Clackamas County Fairgrounds. Although classified by NRPA standards as a neighborhood park, it attracts users from the entire city because it provides recreational opportunities not available elsewhere. As a result, Maple Street Park serves the function more typical of a community park, yet retains its Neighborhood Park classification.  

Primary access to the park is through the two parking lots, each accommodating more than 30 vehicles, located off of Maple Street. There are other access points along the park perimeter, including entry from private residences. Each parking lot is furnished with dumpsters, and a pay phone is located in the north lot.  

The turf is in fair condition, but mossy and uneven in spots. The plantings and trees are well maintained and adequate for a park of this type. The asphalt pathway running the length of the park is narrow, rough and cracked, and poses a potential barrier for wheelchair access. Overall the park is in fair but deteriorating condition.  

The Marshall house is owned by the City, but is not used for any public activities. The property was purchased several years ago with the idea that eventually the building would be removed and the land would be added to Maple Street Park. The house is currently being rented, with the tenant doing the majority of the upkeep of the house and yard.

Canby Community Park  

Canby Community Park is a 14.5-acre park adjacent to the Molalla River. Its most outstanding features include its location along the river, an adjacent duck pond, and a 3-acre protected wetland area, including a nature trail.  

There are several turnouts for parking but no specified parking exists for the disabled. The eastern section of the access road does need to be repaired and resurfaced. The vegetation along the river and surrounding slopes are comprised mostly of invasive non-native species, although the City is working to remove them.

Eco Park (Undeveloped)  

Canby Regional Park

Walker Macy completed a master plan for the Canby Regional Park in July 1998. Phase I of the regional park was just completed, which is primarily the parking area and the skate park. A timeline for the rest of the construction has not been set. When the park is completed, it will serve as a regional draw for its amenities.  

Logging Road Trail  

The Logging Road is a paved, multi-use path roughly three miles in length. The path accommodates bikes and pedestrians but not horses (due to insurance issues). The City, in conjunction with the Trust for Public Land, just acquired about 22.5 acres and extended the trail from Territorial Road to the Willamette River. The newly acquired protected open space closest to the river, Willamette Wayside Park, will provide a riparian area educational component.  

Thirteenth Avenue Park (Undeveloped)

Table 3-1 summarizes the City of Canby’s park and recreation facilities.

Originally a private facility built in 1969, the Canby Swim Center’s purpose is to provide safe year-round swimming for Canby residents and to teach residents to swim and safely enjoy water activities.

The Canby School District’s policy governing community use of its school grounds and facilities states:  

The purpose of these formal polices is to ensure that the school district:

Molalla River State Park  

Molalla River State Park is located two miles northwest of Canby on Canby Ferry Road, on 566 mostly undeveloped acres at the confluence of the Molalla and Willamette Rivers. Park officials reported that 262,036 persons visited the park during the 1999 calendar year, with a five-year average (1995-1999) of 263,744. The park is open year round during daylight hours.