HEPPNER — Heppner residents will soon have a new place to exercise in the great outdoors. The Port of Morrow on Friday broke ground on the “Fit Park” on Riverside Avenue in Heppner. The park, scheduled to be completed in May 2018, will have a variety of exercise gear such as circuit training equipment. It will have a grassy area for multi-sport use, a stage, public restrooms, and badminton and pickle ball courts. The park is a little over 1.5 acres, and is located next to the Willow Creek Water Park.

Kim Cutsforth, former Heppner city manager and Morrow County administrator, said the park cost $325,000 with a variety of grants and donations, from groups such as the Wildhorse Foundation and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The park is the result of a combined effort of the Willow Creek Park District, Heppner High School, Morrow County, the Port of Morrow and the Howard and Beth Bryant Foundation, of which Cutsforth is the director.

Cutsforth said planning for the park began in summer of 2016.