A Walk in Noble Woods

I’ve added something new to my monthly routine: “Nature Day.” The idea is to spend a few hours immersed in the outdoors. My first attempt didn’t stretch into hours, but it was a solid beginning—a short walk through Noble Woods Park in Hillsboro.

Dedicated in 1998, the 37-acre Noble Woods Park was nearly lost to suburban development. An initial ballot measure proposing $6.5 million to purchase and develop the land—then listed at $1 million—failed. But many Hillsboro residents refused to give up. With support from the Hillsboro Community Foundation, the price was negotiated down to $800,000. The foundation raised half the funds, while the city covered the rest. Additional fundraising efforts by the foundation made it possible to develop the park, which officially opened to the public in 1998.