Business View Civil & Municipal l November 2022

25 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 HERMI STON, OR Oregon but one of its most popular suffered tragic damage from a fire in 2019. With fundraising help from the community (which raised about half of the $2 million needed for the project), the new Funland Playground is a “destination attraction,” with three zones including Wild West, Adventure, and Farmland along with a locomotive, wagon train, stagecoach, and even a 6-foot watermelon slice. Funland is a thrilling place for play, education, and engagement for children of all ages and abilities. There are nearly three miles of paved trails near the Umatilla River with more being added in the years ahead to make a larger loop adjacent to the river. The Parks and Recreation department, in conjunction with schools, has created year- round youth sports leagues and a growing number of adult leagues covering a variety of sports from flag football and soccer to volleyball. What it has taken is the brand-new Loma Vista Elementary school, needed to address the growing population of young families. Hermiston High School students moved into a new campus in 2022, complete with athletic and other amenities. Additionally, other infrastructures and technological upgrades have been made throughout the district. Perhaps more than anything Hermiston has highlighted what really makes the community so special – its outdoor natural wonders – one of the driving reasons behind its growth and popularity. It is the largest city in that part of eastern Oregon nestled perfectly in the heart of the beautiful Columbia Basin, perhaps best known for the expansive hydropower generated by the basin for parts of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. More than 10 city parks comprise Hermiston,