Bob and Crystal Rilee Park

CPRD's largest and most forested nature park is near the top of Parrett Mountain and is part of the District's 325-acre parcel of farmland and scenic forest between Newberg, Sherwood, and Wilsonville. There are approximately 12 miles total of both loop and out-and-back trail segments open to hikers and equestrians. Surfaces are mostly natural, a mix of flat stretches and many rigorous slopes through woods. 

CPRD hosts occasional small recreational events on the property under a conditional land use permit from Yamhill County. The farmhouse is not open to the public at this time.

Driving Directions

Address: 10500 Parrett Mt. Road in Newberg, OR 97132

From 99W, turn onto NE Haugen Road (right if driving north; left is driving south). This is a fairly steep, winding road. After two miles, stop at the stop sign at the T.  Turn right at the stop sign onto NE Parrett Mt. Road. After two miles, arrive at the farmhouse on your left. 

Hours are daily, dawn to dusk.

Background

CPRD purchased this property well below market value from the Crystal Dawn Smith Rilee Foundation on Jan. 29, 2014. This transaction was part of the Crystal Dawn Smith Rilee Foundation’s generous legacy property donation to Chehalem Parks Foundation, valued at more than $6 million. The Rilee Foundation donated over $6 million worth of land to CPRD in exchange for the $280,000 purchase price for the 327 acres of property on Parrett Mountain.*

“This decision to give the land to CPRD was made by the foundation as a positive answer to the best future interests of the community, following the wishes of Crystal Rilee to benefit people and allow them to enjoy the land she'd acquired,” said Mary Dugan, vice president of the Foundation. “Crystal wanted people to enjoy the land and the beauty of nature there and was adamantly against any future residential or business development on the property, so she would be very pleased to have it become a park.”

The mission of Chehalem Park and Recreation District is to connect and enrich our community through parks, recreation, open space, natural resources, and educational opportunities. It is the intention of CPRD to fulfill its mandate to the public in the development of this wonderful property into a robust, enjoyable park which serves the needs and desires of various park users, from hikers and picnickers to equestrians and mountain bicyclists. No limitations were placed on CPRD's use of the property as a public park in the terms of the purchase. CPRD currently leases part of the property to a farmer.

* The relatively low price was figured to cover the Foundation's attorney bills and remaining debt engendered by the embezzlement case involving the Foundation’s former executive director Liz Rhode.