Plans are in the works for one new park in west Medford and the upcoming rebuild of a 45-year-old park next to Howard Elementary School in northwest Medford.

“A lot of parks in the system now are newer, built in the past 20 years or so,” said Rich Rosenthal, Medford Parks and Recreation director. “Howard is one of our older parks. It’s a little long in the tooth by modern standards.”

At 45 years, Howard Park, located along Mace Road, will receive a much-needed $1.6 million rebuild starting next spring, providing some 3,000 nearby residents with a playground, splash pad, small dog park, restrooms, a basketball court and two pickleball courts.

The city expects to complete design and engineering of the new Howard Park by the end of December.

The city is looking at creating a new park in west Medford proposed by a private developer, Terry Buntin

Buntin wants to partner with the city for the 9-acre park that his company would build as part of a new subdivision west of Lozier Lane and north of Stewart Avenue.

“Addysen Park is a unique opportunity for Medford,” said Rosenthal.

The city would contribute $750,000 toward the project, which would benefit this west Medford neighborhood.

Some of the features of Addysen Park include a playground, pickle ball courts, a basketball court, a dog park, a sheltered picnic area, restrooms and a lawn area.

Rosenthal said Addysen Park would likely be built in phases, and he expects the park would be developed sometime after the completion of Howard Park.

Medford has 31 park properties, including 29 that are developed or partially developed.

The city has more than 2,500 acres of parkland.

Other parks that are being eyed for future improvement include the one next to Jackson Elementary where the former pool was located.

Rosenthal said it will likely be some time in the future when the old pool will be torn out and replaced by a splash pad.

“We’re going to need seven figures to build that splash pad,” he said.

Jackson Pool is being replaced by two new, year-round indoor pools at the new Rogue X sports complex at the corner of Rossanley Drive and Ross Lane. The sports complex, located in Howard Memorial Sports Park, is expected to open at the beginning of 2024.

Plans are also being developed with Logos Charter School to build a neighborhood park next to the sports complex.

The proposal would provide 3.5 acres of Howard Memorial Sports Park to Logos to build a 13,000-square-foot multipurpose tutoring building and parking lot.

In return, Logos would build a 7.4-acre neighborhood park with playground, a basketball court, an open field, gazebos, restrooms and trails at the corner of Rossanley Drive and Ross Lane next to the Rogue X sports park.

Once all the new parks are built, Rosenthal said he expects most Medford residents will be in close proximity to a neighborhood park.

Compared to other cities, he said, “I think Medford is probably above average for the number of parks in our community.”