Cooper Mountain Nature Park
Encyclopedia
Cooper Mountain Nature Park is a 231 acres (93.5 ha) nature park in the Portland metropolitan area
in the U.S. state of Oregon
. Opened in 2009, the park is owned and operated by Metro
, the regional government in the Oregon portion of the metro area. The park is named after Cooper Mountain
, the primary geological feature in the area near Beaverton
. Maintained by the regional Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District
, the natural area has 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of hiking trails.
area voters approved a bond measure in 1995 that provided funding for the purchase of greenspace
s by Metro. Metro covers most of Washington
, Clackamas
, and Multnomah
counties in the northwest part of Oregon. Metro began buying land on Cooper Mountain near Aloha
and Beaverton in 1997, and spent $6.58 million in total on land. Voters approved an additional bond in 2006, and Metro spent almost $2 million from that bond on facilities at Cooper Mountain. Metro also received a $500,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation and a $40,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
for development of the park. To prepare the area for the park and help restore the native habitat, the area was burned in 2008. Cooper Mountain Nature Park opened on June 27, 2009. Through 2009, volunteers and Metro planted approximately 100,000 shrubs and trees at the park.
in eastern Washington County. The mountain is a former volcano in the Tualatin Valley
. The park's natural areas include groves of oak trees, wetlands, prairie, ponds, and forested areas. Metro owns the park, but will pay Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation about $600,000 to maintain the park over a ten-year contract. The 231 acres (93.5 ha) natural area is surrounded by agricultural lands to the south and urban development on the north. Cooper Mountain is between Oregon Route 10 and Oregon Route 210 south of Beaverton.
Amenities at the park include gardens, a nature center building, parking, bike racks, a children's playground, and 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of gravel trails. The nature center, called the Nature House, is used for educational programs and includes rest rooms, plus is partly powered by solar panels. Birds at the park include the Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl
, Bald Eagle
, Western Bluebird, several sparrow species, and the Olive-sided Flycatcher
. Other animal species in the park include the Northern Red-legged Frog
, Western Gray Squirrel, Northern Alligator Lizard, and the Rubber Boa
. Plant life includes Delphinium leucophaeum
, Oregon Sunshine, Meadow Checkermallow
, and Western Columbine.
Portland metropolitan area
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area , also known as the Portland metropolitan area or Greater Portland, is an urban area in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington centered around the city of Portland, Oregon. The U.S...
in the U.S. state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Opened in 2009, the park is owned and operated by Metro
Metro (Oregon regional government)
Metro, formerly known as Metropolitan Service District, is the regional governmental agency for the Oregon portion of the Portland metropolitan area...
, the regional government in the Oregon portion of the metro area. The park is named after Cooper Mountain
Cooper Mountain (Oregon)
Cooper Mountain is a mountain in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Its summit has an elevation of . The mountain and surrounding area are named for Ohio immigrant Perry Cooper who settled on the mountain.- Namesakes :* Cooper Mountain Nature Park...
, the primary geological feature in the area near Beaverton
Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
. Maintained by the regional Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District
Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District
Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District is a special parks district located in the eastern part of Washington County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Created in 1955, the district covers all of the city of Beaverton and many of those communities surrounding Beaverton in the Portland metropolitan area...
, the natural area has 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of hiking trails.
History
PortlandPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
area voters approved a bond measure in 1995 that provided funding for the purchase of greenspace
Open space reserve
Open space reserve, open space preserve, and open space reservation, are planning and conservation ethics terms used to describe areas of protected or conserved land or water on which development is indefinitely set aside...
s by Metro. Metro covers most of Washington
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
, Clackamas
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
, and Multnomah
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
counties in the northwest part of Oregon. Metro began buying land on Cooper Mountain near Aloha
Aloha, Oregon
Aloha is a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 49,425.-History:...
and Beaverton in 1997, and spent $6.58 million in total on land. Voters approved an additional bond in 2006, and Metro spent almost $2 million from that bond on facilities at Cooper Mountain. Metro also received a $500,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation and a $40,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation protects, sustains and restores the wildlife, plants and habitats of the United States. Established by Congress in 1984, the Foundation directs public conservation dollars to critical environmental needs and matches those investments with private...
for development of the park. To prepare the area for the park and help restore the native habitat, the area was burned in 2008. Cooper Mountain Nature Park opened on June 27, 2009. Through 2009, volunteers and Metro planted approximately 100,000 shrubs and trees at the park.
Features
Cooper Mountain Nature Park is located on the south side of the 774 feet (235.9 m) tall Cooper MountainCooper Mountain (Oregon)
Cooper Mountain is a mountain in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Its summit has an elevation of . The mountain and surrounding area are named for Ohio immigrant Perry Cooper who settled on the mountain.- Namesakes :* Cooper Mountain Nature Park...
in eastern Washington County. The mountain is a former volcano in the Tualatin Valley
Tualatin Valley
The Tualatin Valley is a farming and suburban region southwest of Portland, Oregon in the United States. The valley is formed by the meandering Tualatin River, a tributary of the Willamette River at the northwest corner of the Willamette Valley, east of the Northern Oregon Coast Range...
. The park's natural areas include groves of oak trees, wetlands, prairie, ponds, and forested areas. Metro owns the park, but will pay Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation about $600,000 to maintain the park over a ten-year contract. The 231 acres (93.5 ha) natural area is surrounded by agricultural lands to the south and urban development on the north. Cooper Mountain is between Oregon Route 10 and Oregon Route 210 south of Beaverton.
Amenities at the park include gardens, a nature center building, parking, bike racks, a children's playground, and 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of gravel trails. The nature center, called the Nature House, is used for educational programs and includes rest rooms, plus is partly powered by solar panels. Birds at the park include the Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl, , also known as the Tiger Owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas.-Description:...
, Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
, Western Bluebird, several sparrow species, and the Olive-sided Flycatcher
Olive-sided Flycatcher
The Olive-sided Flycatcher, Contopus cooperi, is a passerine bird. It is a medium-sized tyrant flycatcher.- Description :Adults are dark olive on the face, upperparts and flanks. They have light underparts, a large dark bill and a short tail....
. Other animal species in the park include the Northern Red-legged Frog
Northern Red-legged Frog
The northern red-legged frog is a species of amphibian, whose range is the coastal region stretching from southwest British Columbia to Northern California, and is protected in British Columbia, Oregon and California. As a member of the genus Rana, this species is considered a true frog, with...
, Western Gray Squirrel, Northern Alligator Lizard, and the Rubber Boa
Rubber Boa
The Rubber Boa is a snake in the family Boidae that is native to the Western United States.-Taxonomy:The Rubber Boa is a snake in the family Boidae and genus Charina. The name Charina is from the Greek for graceful or delightful, and the name bottae honors Dr. Paolo E. Botta, an Italian ship's...
. Plant life includes Delphinium leucophaeum
Delphinium
Delphinium is a genus of about 300 species of perennial flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native throughout the Northern Hemisphere and also on the high mountains of tropical Africa. The common name, larkspur, is shared with the closely related genus Consolida...
, Oregon Sunshine, Meadow Checkermallow
Sidalcea
Sidalcea is a genus of the botanical family Malvaceae. It contains several species of flower known generally as checkerblooms or checkermallows.Selected species:*Sidalcea calycosa - annual checkerbloom...
, and Western Columbine.