Sandy Community Campus Project History (2014-2020)

Note: this page contains a project history timeline.  Click here for current project updates.

May 2020

Given the unfortunate results of the public polling regarding the special district concept, the City Council has asked staff to develop options for the campus property and facilities that will realize cost savings and position the City to meet the Council's goals going forward.  The Council plans to revisit the issue and evaluate potential paths forward in the fall of 2020.

February - April 2020

The City has explored the possibility of asking voters to form a new aquatics and recreation special district, which would encompass the greater Sandy area.  A special district could provide stable funding for aquatics and recreation programming in our area and would allow for renovation and re-opening of the Sandy Pool (Aquatic Center). It could also facilitate some of the improvements envisioned for the Community Campus, such as community meeting spaces and parkland improvements.  For more information, visit the special district project page.

January 2020

The results of the community survey were presented to the City Council public on January 6. Thank you to everyone who participated. The results indicated that majority are in favor of keeping the pool and either expanding or renovating the existing pool. Trails and access to the river and playgrounds had the highest support for improvements at the community campus, and a majority of respondents supported the effort to develop a special district concept to place before voters. 

October 2019

A mail-out and online community survey is in progress for gathering public input on amenities and features at the community campus, options for the aquatic center, and funding. The survey is being mailed to thousands of households with registered voters in Sandy and in the greater Mt. Hood community. Your input is very valuable for the Council in developing a plan for the pool and community campus. If you received a survey, please take a few minutes to either complete the survey online or the return your survey via the enclosed return envelope. 

March 2019

The City Council will begin studying options for the future of the community campus that will include input from the public. The Draft Sandy Aquatic and Community Campus Study that was completed by the design firm (Opsis) and presented to the Council on March 11. On March 18, the City Council decided to close the aquatic center effective May 31 to save costs while a plan is developed for the future of the Community Campus. Read the announcement here.

January 2019

The Sandy City Council sets a 2019 goal to make a decision on the future of the Sandy Community Campus. The goal includes implementing a strategy for the operation and maintenance of the aquatic center and adopting a plan for the campus. 

August 2018

The pool annex building (the small building in the pool parking lot near the Pleasant Street entrance) and the old covered play structure immediately behind the pool will be demolished and removed by Konell Construction in mid-August, along with some miscellaneous basketball hoops and exterior benches behind the pool. 

July 2018

Pool re-opens to the public on July 5th.  Flower baskets and bike racks added to exterior.

June 2018

Repairs and upgrades are nearing completion, and staff training is currently in progress.  Opening Day will be Thursday, July 5th, 2018.  Ribbon cutting at noon followed by free Open Recreation Swim for everyone until 5:00 pm.  Please refer to the Aquatic Center web page for information on pool schedule and programs.

May 2018

Progress continues on the aquatic center repairs and updates with the ultimate goal of opening this summer.  A new page on the City's website is currently under construction which will include information about admission fees, programming information, pool schedule, and other information related to the pool.  Additionally, progress is being made toward developing a master plan for the entire site including the old Cedar Ridge Middle school.  Some demolition may occur this summer around the campus.  Coming this summer we will begin to seek public input.  Continue to check the website for updates.

April 2018

The aquatic center at the Sandy Community Campus is currently closed as the site is evaluated for safety and progress is being made toward improvements and upgrades.  Some of the current projects include ADA upgrades, improved plumbing and electric work, HVAC and boiler maintenance, expanded lobby area,improved locker rooms and family changing areas.  We continue to work toward our goal of opening the aquatic center this summer.  Please look for the summer recreation guide for proposed hours of operation and aquatic program offerings.

February 2018

Progress continues on the development of the master plan for the Olin J. Bignall Aquatic Center and the old Cedar Ridge Middle School.  This project will officially be referred to from this point forward as the Sandy Community Campus Project.  On Wednesday, February 28th, the Olin J. Bignall Aquatic Center will close to the public to begin preparation for work related to this project.

2017

In May/June of 2017, members of Sandy City Council and City staff reviewed responses to a Request for Proposal and interviewed design firms interested in the project.  The winning proposal was from Opsis, a Portland-based design firm.  Opsis has designed many recreation and aquatic centers here in Oregon, including the Hillsboro Community Recreation Center, the Western Oregon University Health and Wellness Center, the Conestoga Rec Center for the Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District, the Madras Aquatic Center and the West Linn Community Center.

Renovations on the old Sandy High School (Pioneer Building) campus continue, as the Oregon Trail School District works to make this building available for middle school students beginning in the 2017-2018 school year.  For more information from the District about this part of the project, click here .

2016

Both the City of Sandy and the Oregon Trail School District signed the agreement to transfer ownership of the Cedar Ridge Middle school, the Olin Bignall Aquatic Center, and surrounding property in October of 2016.  The school district began renovating the old Sandy High School campus in preparation to move the junior high school there.  The Cedar Ridge campus was then vacated by the school district, and the City of Sandy took full ownership of the property.  Decisions regarding the continuing operations of the current aquatic center, operational funding, any demolition work, and start times for construction of a new facility will be made over the course of 2017.

2015

Over the course of 2015, the City of Sandy Urban Renewal Board was able to pass an amendment to their Urban Renewal Plan that allowed the use of these funds for the construction of a pool and recreation campus.  It was a lengthy process that required the approval of over 75% of the overlapping taxing districts.  Although the Urban Renewal Plan is updated to include this project, there must be enough tax revenue to cover the debt payments for a bond that would pay for construction.  This could take a few years while current debt is being paid.  The city will also need to explore options for operational revenue.

2014

In July of 2014, a phone survey was conducted regarding the Sandy Pool.  Linked below is a presentation of the results of that survey.  In summary, the survey indicated that there was support for extending operations of the Sandy Pool and using a fee on the utility bill to support operations for both the pool and a recreational campus.