Sorosis Park to Get New Playground Structure
The TreeTop playground redevelopment project is now fully funded.
By Cole Goodwin
The Dalles, Ore., October 4, 2023 — The Sorosis Park rehabilitation project has hit a new milestone today. The North Wasco County Parks and Recreation District (NWPRD) has successfully secured an Oregon State Parks grant amounting to $420,000, which will cover 60% of the estimated $700,000 replacement cost for the TreeTop playground structure at Sorosis Park. NWPRD will cover the remaining 40% of the cost, meaning the project to replace the TreeTop play structure is now fully funded.
Community members can look forward to a revitalized and modern playground that not only preserves the spirit of the original TreeTop Playground but also introduces new elements. The donor boards, which are engraved with the names of those who donated to make the building of the TreeTop playground possible, will be saved and repurposed in the new design.
“It’s our intention to save all that and somehow incorporate that into the new playground. We’re not exactly sure right now what that is going to look like. But we want to retain that legacy for the future,” said Todd Wheeler, Assistant Director of NWPRD.
In the future, NWPRD will provide opportunities for public input on the design of the new play structure once a consultant has been selected.
“The existing playground had an expected lifespan of 20 years. We’ve got 25 years out of it and it’s time to think about the future of the community and bring it up to standards of inclusivity and accessibility. And we’ll have community involvement to share their thoughts on the project…We certainly want to have a design that is unique and reflects The Dalles community and its history while also bringing it up to current inclusivity and accessibility standards and have it be a fun park for local youth and our community,” said Wheeler.
The project is expected to begin construction in 2024.
