Willamette Activity Center

Fast Facts

Past

• In 1952, the Willamette City Elementary School was built in Willamette City. Twenty years later in 1972, Willamette City merged with the City of Oakridge.
• In 1977, the Willamette City Elementary School was closed. By 1980, a grant was used to repurpose the building to serve as a hub for community services and activities. This is when the Willamette Activity Center (WAC) was born.
• In 2022, the WAC closed to outside tenants due to issues with the electrical system and roof leaks.

Present

• To bring the WAC back to life, there are 3 phases. Phase 1 is currently underway thanks to funding from the
  2022 Oregon Rural Infrastructure Package and Oregon Community Foundation grants.
• An architect has assessed necessary renovations and the electrical has been fixed. Up next will be upgrading the
  roof and completing a study funded by the Oregon Department of Energy to explore using solar energy to lower operational costs.
• Phase 1 may be complete by December 2024. After Phase 1, as many services as possible will return to the WAC.

Future

• Phase 2 is not currently funded, which makes the timing unknown. If and when funded, this phase will bring the
  building up to code and fortify it to withstand earthquakes. Upgrades will improve accessibility and energy efficiency.
• For Phase 3 funding and timing are also unknown. If and when funded, this phase will upgrade the interior and exterior of
  the building.
• The WAC will be put back in commission to serve our community as a hub for activities and services.

Working Toward our Strategic Goals

The initiative to renovate the WAC and restore community services aligns with 7 out of 11 of our Strategic Goals for 2020-2025.

Safe Community

• Create a safe community by partnering to protect people, property, and the environment.
• Provide efficient, sustainable, and equitable public safety services including police, fire, and emergency medical services.

Responsive Government

• In an open and transparent manner, effectively deliver services that citizens need, want, and support.
• Provide facilities and infrastructure that support current and future needs.

Strong Economy

• Improve the City's economy by focusing on increasing living-wage jobs, training, and education opportunities for Oakridge residents.

Community Livability

• Work with community partners to provide recreation, education, and enrichment opportunities for citizens and youth.
• Seek opportunities to revitalize the City's business corridors and neighborhoods to provide safe and beautiful places to live and work.

Community Priorities Survey Results

In order to capture input on the desired future services and uses of the WAC, The City partnered with South Willamette Solutions to administer a community survey. Input was sought from the Oakridge-Westfir area residents from July 1–July 31, 2023, resulting in 442 community members completing the survey. The feedback will be considered as the City identifies future programming and uses for the WAC.

High-Level Summary

442 total survey responses

• 183 print survey responses
• 259 online survey responses

In rank order, the combined results for “Important” and “Very Important” by service category are:

1. Community / Social Activities (79%)
2. Emergency / Disaster Response (76%)
3. Human / Social Care (73%)
4. Health / Medical Care (72%)
5. Early Childhood Education / Child Care (69%)
6. Business / Education Center (62%)
7. Vital / Basic Care (59%)

Additional details can be found in the full report linked below.

* Project costs are ballpark estimates. The project team is keeping an eye on potential cost efficiencies throughout the project.