Ford's Pond

Construction for Project II at Ford's Pond will start June 5, 2023 with an anticipated completion date of Summer of 2024. The playground will remain closed until completed in 2024. 
Please be courteous of all construction activity. 


** Please do not feed the wildlife **

Donations to help support the continuing improvements and maintenance of Ford's Pond Park are greatly appreciated.  By making a donation, big or small you help make this park possible!
Please read the City of Sutherlin Ford's Pond Park
Physical Improvement Donation Policy click here.    
Click Here for Donation Agreement. 

Click Here for a "Storytelling Video" posted 12/30/2022




Parking Lot, June 2021

Culverts under path

The City of Sutherlin is pleased to announce that the Ford’s Pond Community Park project has been awarded three Oregon Parks and Recreation grants totaling over $960,000. To date, the Friends of Ford’s Pond and the city’s 6-year partnership has resulted in grants and donations totaling over $1.8 million for improvements at the park.

These newest grants are funded by state lottery proceeds and federal revenues from oil/gas leases and fuel taxes. The city will now be able to complete the perimeter path and add restrooms, picnic shelters, and an inclusive, natural playground. This will add a much-needed playground on the west side of Sutherlin. Construction is expected to be completed in 2022.

The playground will be built for inclusive play, self-discovery, and making friends—without barriers—welcoming to all ages and abilities. Play components will be integrated into the landscape design to complement the natural, open space park.

The playground components are not included in the grant funding. Specific sources for the components will be identified in the design phase. The Friends of Ford’s Pond will be kicking off a capital campaign this spring. Those wishing to make a donation at this time, may visit the Friends’ website (www.fordspond.org).

Construction is completed for: parking, sidewalks, utilities, signage, security lighting, benches, and paving the first half of the perimeter path. This work was scheduled to be completed in early summer 2021. There are also two temporary parking areas off Hwy 138W, on the north side of the pond.

Parking lot and sidewalk construction, February 2021

The Ford's Pond Community Park and Trail Improvements Phase I and 2A project bid has been awarded to Cradar Enterprises! Click here for the press release.

ATTENTION:   The City of Sutherlin has applied for an Oregon State Marine Board Boating Facility and Waterway Access Grant in the amount of $136,165 for design and engineering services for the boat launch and parking off of Hwy 138 at Ford’s Pond! 
 

New to the grant review and evaluation process is an opportunity for the public to provide comments on the grant applications. Please click on the link and then click on “Now accepting your comments on Boating Facility Grant Application”. Go to the City of Sutherlin’s Ford’s Pond Grant application to review and provide comments via email, when commenting reference "Grant Application #1656 and Ford's Pond"! https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/boating-facilities/Pages/Boating%20Facilities%20Home.aspx

As you head out Hwy 138W, you will find Ford's Pond on the left at the corner of Church Road.  It's a primitive city park, currently under development in partnership with The Friends of Ford's Pond.  The City has a Parks Master Plan and looks forward to the future for this increasingly popular attraction offering bird watching, boating, fishing, and a great place to take a walk.  Future plans include: picnic areas, facilities, playground and parking lot among other ideas.  The 202-acre property is located on the west side of Sutherlin, with parking available off Church Rd.  Take I-5 Exit 136 to Hwy 138W to Church Rd; the park is located about 1-mile west of the Interstate.

City of Sutherlin and Friends of Ford’s Pond would like to present the conceptual rendering of Ford’s Pond Community Park (see picture below). Construction is anticipated to start mid-summer and be completed by late fall. Project 2A Phase 1  will consist of phase 1 for a  parking lot, signage, picnic tables, benches, site utilities water, sewer, electrical and roughly 0.8 miles trail. Bid results will dictate how much of the 0.8 mile path will be constructed this year. Thanks for your patience as we move forward with the development of Ford’s Pond Community Park.

The nonprofit Friends of Ford's Pond currently maintains a 1.75-mile loop trail on the                             
west hillside.   A walking group gathers each Monday at 9am for a brisk walk; all are welcome to join!  Additional information is available on the Friends of Ford's Pond Facebook page.

Ford's Pond is for day-use only, leashed dogs are welcome and pet waste bags are available.  Please help keep the park clean by packing out any trash or pet waste.

To view the Master Plan, scroll down to the "more resources" section and click on "Ford's Pond Master Plan".

                                                                                         eNews!  Go to:       http://www.fordspond.org/  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
    

   
 Photo Credit: Robert Christianson