Nearly half of Washington County lives inside the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District, and those voters are about to be handed a very big maintenance bill.
On May 19, 2026, residents within the district will decide whether to approve Measure 34-350, a $280 million bond proposal that would fund roughly two decades of park and facility repairs. The money would go into pools, trails, recreation centers and natural areas. District leaders say the package is essentially a handoff from an expiring bond and is structured to keep the local tax rate broadly the same for homeowners.
What’s On The Ballot
Measure 34-350 would let Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District issue up to $280 million in general obligation bonds for capital needs and safety upgrades, according to the Washington County voters' pamphlet. That pamphlet carries the official ballot title along with formal pro and con arguments that will land in voters’ mailboxes ahead of May 19.
What The Bond Would Pay For
District officials say the focus is on taking care of what THPRD already owns, not going on a land-buying spree. The proposal centers on repairing roofs and mechanical systems, replacing aging play equipment, improving lighting and safety systems, and modernizing pools and restrooms, according to the district’s bond information page. The Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District describes the bond as a replacement for the 2008 measure that is nearing retirement.
Local Projects And Price Tags
Some of the big-ticket ideas already floating around: up to $17 million for a Beaverton Swim Center remodel, about $30 million to build two destination parks, and extra money to finish a Westside Trail bridge project that currently has around $17 million in hand but may need more to get across the finish line. Those figures come from district deputy general manager Aisha Panas, who outlined potential allocations to The Oregonian/OregonLive.
THPRD stresses that if the bond passes, a community oversight committee would help shape the final project list and how the money gets carved up.
Support, Scale And Opposition
The voters' pamphlet lists endorsements from the THPRD board, several local elected officials and conservation groups, and notes that the district serves more than 270,000 people across roughly a 50-square-mile area. According to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Washington County has about 611,272 residents, which means THPRD covers around 45% of the county and represents a hefty slice of the local electorate.
The same pamphlet also prints formal opposition statements from the Taxpayers Association of Oregon and Jason Williams, who question both the timing of the measure and the district’s spending priorities.
How Much It Would Cost Homeowners
THPRD estimates a projected bond tax rate of about $0.37 per $1,000 of assessed value. That works out to roughly $10.03 per month, or $120.41 a year, for a home with an assessed value near $325,421. The district says that $0.37 target is in line with the planning that backed the 2008 bond, though it also notes that actual levy rates can shift over time.
Reporting on the measure points out that if voters reject the replacement bond, a typical homeowner could see an annual tax reduction of about $95 as the old debt rolls off the books. For the district, supporters argue, that would come with tradeoffs, including the risk of sudden facility closures if aging systems fail without bond-backed replacement money ready to go.
Why This Is Coming To A Vote Now
THPRD officials and the bond task force say the timing is intentional. With the 2008 bond nearing payoff, they argue, stacking a replacement immediately after avoids a funding gap that might push the district into deferring repairs or closing facilities while it scrambles for cash.
Opponents counter that voters have already been asked to support operational levies in recent years and say another major request this soon deserves a harder look at what is truly essential and what can wait.
