Could a national nonprofit help save a Tigard wetland?

The Tigard-Tualatin School District is looking for $5.88 million for 42 acres north of Fowler Middle School

By Jennifer Clampet

The Times, Sep 25, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (2 Reader comments)

Jaime Valdez / The Times

PUBLIC TRUST – The Tigard-Tualatin School District has entered into a purchase and sale agreement with the Trust for Public Lands for 42 acres of land north of Fowler Middle School, part of which is pictured at left.

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TIGARD — A national nonprofit group skilled in finding funds for land conservation will spend the next 18 months organizing efforts for the purchase of 42 acres north of Fowler Middle School in Tigard.

The property is currently owned by the Tigard-Tualatin School District. In 2006, the School Board designated the property — which lies north of Summer Creek — as surplus, prompting the district to look into selling it.

In a joint effort to keep the land in the public domain, officials with Metro and the city of Tigard brought in the Trust for Public Land.

TPL is a land conservation organization that is dedicated to conserving land for people to enjoy as parks and other natural places.

The Tigard City Council has recognized that piece of property as desired park land, and in 2006 Metro representatives shared interest in the land as a possible future acquisition for open space.

The nonprofit group has been in negotiations with the school district since January.

Robert Betcone, counsel for TPL, is optimistic about finding the funds for the Fowler property. Tigard is expected to contribute the initial funding for the land. Dennis Koellermeier, Tigard’s public works director, said the city is planning to earmark nearly $1 million for the property. The bulk of the funding will likely come from a grant the city will apply for from Metro’s greenspace program. Other funding for Tigard’s share may come from System Development Charges.

TPL will look into grants and support from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the Oregon State Department of Parks and Recreation and other private conservation sources.

Betcone mentioned that TPL representatives took Washington County commissioners on a tour of the property and said the members seemed interested in helping to preserve the land as open space.

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