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The largest special park district in Oregon, Tualatin Hills Parkand Recreation District, is getting bigger.

THPRD has closed on the purchase of a 23-acre parcel in the Cedar Mill area of Beaverton that is slated to become a future community park. The $8 million purchase marks the fifth property acquisition the district has made as part of a $100 million bond that was approved by voters in 2008.

The parcel was purchased from Larry Teufel and is occupied by Teufel Hilly Farms. According to terms of the sale, Teufel will lease the land from the park district until the district is ready build the park. The park district has no immediate funding for the park and will go through an extensive public planning process before development does occur.

Once developed, the community park will have athletic fields, sport courts, open areas, play structures, picnic facilities and a trail system, said THPRD General Manager Doug Menke.

The bond funds are meant to be used to acquire land for future parks and make improvements to existing ones. Currently, the district has more than 200 park sites, 60 miles of trails, eight swim centers, six recreation centers and 1,300 acres of natural area.