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A proposal to build two multiuse sports fields in the northwest corner of the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex (GFRC) in Hillsboro is no longer moving forward. The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) notified the city that the proposal would present too much risk.

Project plans were pursued in conjunction with approval of a lease agreement for the Hillsboro Hops Ballpark. In that project, three grass softball fields at GFRC are being replaced by a new ballpark that will meet requirements laid out for the team by Major League Baseball in 2021.

When the lease agreement was reached in June, the proposed site was a viable option for the new sports fields and there were potential solutions for environmental, regulatory, and entitlement challenges, the city stated in a press release. Then design-build contractor Mortenson broke ground on the ballpark in August with preliminary site work. Construction is scheduled to finish in 2026.

The city and BPA had been working together over the past year to design the fields in a manner to minimize any risks associated with future transmission lines. But last month BPA informed the city that the site cannot accommodate a project of the proposed size without conflicting with future high-voltage transmission lines.

After completing due diligence to evaluate a scaled-down version of the previous plan, the city has shifted its focus to identifying other options. Those include pursuing a smaller development at the site; pursuing new development at alternative locations; seeking additional use and modifications of the Hillsboro Hops Ballpark to accommodate community activities; increasing community access to Field 3 at GFRC; offering community hours at the new ballpark; enhancing fields around the city with turf, fencing, or other amenities; repurposing underutilized sites; and pursuing other strategies identified in the , which the Hillsboro City Council adopted in July, the city states.

Any projects to replace lost use will be paid for with $20 million generated from a portion of ticket sales at Hillsboro Hops games, according to the lease agreement.

Next, options previously identified in the Loss of Use Report will be reviewed. The Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Commission, Hillsboro City Council, and the community will be involved in the effort to create a revised plan.