Tonight, the Hillsboro City Council will consider an Ordinance relative to the replacement fields it is required to build to replace Fields 4, 5, and 6 at the Godon Faber Recreation Complex, which were torn out to make way for the new Hillsboro Hops Stadium, which seems to be ahead of schedule for the 2026 season. The massive new facility will be the new home of the Hops for baseball, concerts, and corporate outings. When done, it will be a shining star for Hillsboro and the envy of many baseball towns. It is something to see.
Those lost fields must be replaced and completed before the first pitch is thrown at the new Stadium, and right now, a location and design are still in the works. City Staff are working feverishly to finalize options for a site other than the GFRC complex, following the decision that the current spaces will not work. The Herald covered that story at the end of 2024.
Hillsboro Needs To Hit A Home Run In Replacing Fields Displaced By Hillsboro Hops
This proposal tonight is from the Finance Committee to restructure some of the debt and reallocate certain pending expenditures for the new Police Headquarters and Fire Station. Between $20 and $30 million will be needed for the replacement fields. Where they go and the design aspects need to be worked out. Grass vs year-round turf fields is one topic for discussion.
Here is what is on tap tonight for the City Council to consider.
Consider Finance Committee’s recommendation to adopt an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 6472, authorizing staff to execute the sale of bonds as it relates to various capital projects in the City’s capital improvement plan. Ordinance No. *6503 is available.
Recreation Projects (Replacement Fields) – the New Ballpark has displaced three fields on the
Gordon Faber Recreation Complex (GFRC). As part of the New Ballpark project plan, the loss of
use resulting from losing fields 4, 5, and 6 at GFRC and gaining full access of the Hillsboro Ballpark
(previously known as Ron Tonkin Field) will be mitigated. The equivalent of two grass fields needs
to be built to mitigate the hours displaced. Location and then design of the new fields are still in
the works. It is estimated to cost up to $20 million for two new grass fields. Allowing for the sale
of up to $25 million in revenue bonds will allow flexibility as more information is learned about
the design elements of the new fields. These bonds will be secured by the Strategic Investment
Program, but it is intended to be paid back over time from ticket and parking surcharge payments
from the lease agreement. If the fields are turfed, or additional recreation capacity is created
beyond the minimum required to mitigate the hours displaced, funding to repay any debt service
will come from Parks System Development charges.
The Herald will follow up on this story with an update from City Staff very soon. We are excited to see what happens and to have all of this come to a completion in 2026 in time for baseball season.
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