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@WestLinnUpdate
WEST LINN, OR – August 23, 2024 – On Friday, a Clackamas County Circuit Court jury ruled that the original purchase and sale agreement entered into by the West Linn-Wilsonville School District and the City of West Linn regarding Oppenlander field is not legally binding.
“We did our best to uphold both the votes of the West Linn residents who clearly expressed a desire to preserve Oppenlander as a park and our contractual obligations under the Purchase and Sale Agreement,” said Mayor Rory Bialostosky. “While disappointing, I respect the decision of the jury and appreciate their attention to the case.”
The trial was the result of a disagreement between the City and School District over the contracted sale price of the Oppenlander property, a 10-acre green space located off Rosemont Road in West Linn. For the past fifty years, the property has been used as a community park by youth sports teams and families. In 2021, the School District declared it surplus land and moved to sell. Community members expressed concern that a developer would build on the land.
West Linn residents petitioned both the District and the City for the City to buy the property so it can remain a park. In January of 2022, the City and School District entered into a purchase and sale contract agreement with the understanding that the field would be restricted to use as a park. The park-use restriction affected the value of the property, and the School District sued the City in an attempt to void the contract. The City offered resolution settlements that were not accepted, and the case went to trial August 12. Friday’s verdict supports the School District’s position that the original contract is not legally binding.
The City is grateful for the School District’s collaboration on many shared efforts, including school safety, library and parks programs, and public works projects. The City looks forward to continued partnership with the School District to enhance and enrich the community.
For more information about the history of the Oppenlander property case, visit the City’s website. Please direct questions and comments to Community Relations Coordinator Danielle Choi at dchoi@westlinnoregon.gov or 971-303-1236.