Shute Park Aquatic & Recreation Center

Proposals to build a pool for the city began as early as 1934 when the city council referred one plan to the city’s budget committee.Swimming Pool Proposed, The Oregonian, October 4, 1934, p. 6. That proposal would have been paid for using bonds and be built by the New Deal's State Emergency Relief Administration at Shute Park. Plans to build a pool at Shute Park came to fruition in 1953 when the project was allotted about $90,000 in controlled materials by the National Production Authority,Oregon Firms Get Materials, The Oregonian, March 1, 1953, p. 29 after $90,000 in bonds were approved by voters in June 1950 for construction of a pool.{{cite book|last=Fitzgerald|first=Kimberli|title=Hillsboro|year=2009|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=9780738571829|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4fr22_GUH2MC&dq=hillsboro+pool&pg=PA112 |author2=Deborah Raber |page=112}} The pool then opened in 1954, and the next year the city decided to keep it operating seven days a week during the summer.Pool Keeps Open. p. 19, June 26, 1955, The Oregonian. That original outdoor pool is {{convert|150|ft}} long and {{convert|51|ft}} wide.{{cite news|title=Hillsboro parks dives into swim expansion|last=Fentress|first=Aaron|date=March 5, 1998|work=The Oregonian|page=D2}} During the early years of the facility, it hosted an annual water show that included diving, water ballet, and a comedy skit.Water Show Features Ballet, Clowns. The Oregonian, p. 13, August 19, 1960.

A $2.6 million bond measure went before voters in September 1979 to finance construction of an indoor pool, along with a second operating levy to pay for the operations.{{cite news|title=Beaverton school levy faces voters second time|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=September 11, 1979|page=W1}} The plan called for a main pool, a sauna, racquetball courts, a shallow pool for children, and a hydrotherapy pool, among other amenities. Voters passed both of the measures for what would be a {{convert|26777|ft2|adj=on}} center, with construction beginning in summer 1980.{{cite news|last=Lund|first=Diane|title=Aquatic center's opening hits construction delay|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=September 22, 1981|page=MW5}}{{cite news|last=Lund|first=Diane|title=New pool to set stage for arts 'big splash'|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=June 23, 1981|page=MW3}} The aquatics center was completed in 1981 and opened in September that year.{{cite news|last=Lund|first=Diane|title=Open house slated|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=September 1, 1981|page=MW1}} The facility included an indoor pool with locker rooms, a weight room, and three racquetball courts. The new center cost $2.5 million to build, with C.A. Lantz Construction Co. serving as the general contractor. The project faced several delays due to leaks in the roof.{{cite news|title=$25 charge for pool use set|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=October 13, 1981|page=MW7}}

The main indoor pool is {{convert|75|ft}} long and {{convert|25|ft}} wide. In August 1988, the original pool house for the outdoor pool became the new headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Department after a $65,000 remodeling project.{{cite news|title=West Zoner: Hillsboro's parks agency gets new home|date=August 11, 1988|work=The Oregonian|page=6}} The city worked to repair the roof on the center in 1989 while also suing the original contractor over the leaking roof.{{cite news|title=Repairs on way for aquatic center roof|date=July 11, 1989|work=The Oregonian|page=B2}}

A family of three A & W Burger statues were moved to the grounds of the center in 1991 from the Papa Aldo’s restaurant across the street.{{cite news|title=Hillsboro's burger family moves to aquatic center|date=March 13, 1991|work=The Oregonian|page=B2}} Considered a temporary move at the time, the family was missing the Teen Burger character when the former restaurant owner donated the fiberglass statues to the city.

File:Shute Park Aquatic Center.JPG

By 1998 pool usage had climbed to approximately 200,000 annual visits, so the city put forward a bond measure to voters to build a new pool at the aquatic center and to build a new {{convert|60000|ft2}} aquatic in the Ronler Acres area. The new center would include a wave pool and overall the bond would have allow for borrowing of $15.7 million for the projects. The bond went to voters in May and received more than 50% of the vote, but Oregon’s double majority rule prevented the measure from passing.{{cite news|title=Hillsboro voters get full slate of services on Nov. 3 ballot|last=Fentress|first=Aaron|date= October 5, 1998|work=The Oregonian|page=B2}} The city tried again in November 1998, but the measure failed.

In September 2004, the center closed for renovations that included fixing the roof and plumbing.{{cite news|title=Hillsboro aquatic center faces renovation|last=Bermudez|first=Esmeralda|date=March 18, 2004|work=The Oregonian|page=B2}} The center was to be closed until June 2005, though the outdoor pool was to remain open during the originally estimated $5.2 million project that would also expand the center.{{cite news|title=Hillsboro swim team treads water as repairs shut pools|last=Bermudez|first=Esmeralda|date= September 9, 2004 |work=The Oregonian|page=B1}}{{cite news|title=Synchronized repairs|last=Bermudez|first=Esmeralda|date= October 21, 2004 |work=The Oregonian|page=D2}} Although the center closed in September, a contract for the construction was not finalized until December 2004 when Todd Construction won with a $6.4 million bid.{{cite news|title=Hillsboro OKs $6.4 million to renovate aquatic center|last=Smith|first=Jill|date=December 23, 2004|work=The Oregonian|page=B2}} At that time, the pool was scheduled to re-open in November or December 2005.

While the Shute Park facility was under renovation, the city began plans to build a second aquatic center for the city.{{cite news|title=Hillsboro recreation site in works|last=Bermudez|first=Esmeralda|date= January 18, 2006 |work=The Oregonian|page=C3}} In January 2006, the city announced plans to build a center at Northeast 53rd Avenue where they had purchased {{convert|41|acre}}, including a storage building once used by Soloflex. That property became 53rd Avenue Park that opened in 2008.

The Shute Park center re-opened in March 2006 after a $9 million expansion and renovation.{{cite news|title= Metro West Neighbors: Rec center rolls out classes to boost your body, mind|last=Bermudez|first=Esmeralda|date= February 8, 2007 |work=The Oregonian|page=6}} After the expansion, SHARC was then {{convert|43480|ft2}} in size that allowed for expanding indoor activities such as group exercise, more classrooms, and other classes that had been held at the Tyson Recreation Center. In August 2008, employees used an automated external defibrillator to help save a visitor's life.{{cite news|last=Gregory|first=Roger|title=SHARC employees get kudos for saving a life|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/2008/12/sharc_employees_get_kudos_for.html|accessdate=12 April 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=December 31, 2008}} By 2011 the center served approximately 230,000 people each year.{{cite news|title=SHARC will close for two weeks of R&R|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/argus/index.ssf/2011/08/sharc_will_close_for_two_weeks.html|accessdate=12 April 2012|newspaper=The Hillsboro Argus|date=August 23, 2011}}

Located at southwest Maple Street at Tenth Avenue, SHARC has a variety of water based and indoor features. Pools include the original outdoor pool that measures {{convert|50|yd}} by {{convert|17|yd}} and has two diving boards, but is only opening during the summer except for members of the HEAT swim team.{{cite web|title=Shute Park Aquatic and Recreation Center|url=http://www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/ParksRec/SHARC/SHARCAmenities.aspx|work=Parks & Recreation|publisher=City of Hillsboro|accessdate=April 8, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325143623/http://www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/ParksRec/SHARC/SHARCAmenities.aspx|archivedate=March 25, 2012}} Indoors are the main pool and a smaller wading pool designed for children and beginning swimmers. The main pool is {{convert|25|m}} by {{convert|25|yd}} and L-shaped that includes a slide and one diving board. The smaller wading pool includes an elevated teacup.

As a recreation center, SHARC has a weight room, a cardio room, and multipurpose rooms where various classes are offered. There is also a spa pool and dry sauna. Other amenities include locker rooms, including a family changing area, child care, and a snack bar.

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• [https://www.hillsboro-oregon.gov/departments/parks-recreation/recreation-fun-/fitness/ Shute Park Aquatic and Recreation Center]
• [https://www.teamunify.com/Home.jsp?team=hhst Hillsboro HEAT Swim Team]

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Category:Swimming venues in Oregon

Category:Buildings and structures in Hillsboro, Oregon

Category:Sports venues in Hillsboro, Oregon

Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1981

Category:1981 establishments in Oregon