Meinig Park To Begin Big 2026 Upgrade Project

The City of Sandy plans to make sweeping upgrades to Meinig Park in 2026, focusing on key improvements like ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant paths, new lighting, shelter replacements, and a new bathroom located in the lower parking lot, to name a few.

Park officials put into motion three key goals of enhancing safety, longevity, and universal accessibility for all users, as outlined in the Design Review Project #25-050DR. City officials believe it will create a safer park experience.

Citizens can expect some construction interruptions until the project is completed. There is no timetable as to when the project will conclude. Both parking lot resurfacing projects are anticipated to be finished before July to be ready in time for The Mountain Days Festival, as well as the music and movie park night events.  

Newly-appointed Parks and Recreation Director Tiana Rundell will oversee the project. Rundell has been with the City of Sandy Park and Rec team for 5-1/2 years as a Park Supervisor and, most recently, has acted as Interim Director until it was announced in January 2026 that she was officially named permanent Park and Rec Director.

“I have literally been at my new position for two days.” laughs Rundell.

The Parks and Recreation Department has allocated $1,000,000 for Park SDCs (System Development Charges) and the staff was successful in securing $791,146 in grant funding from the Travel Oregon and OPRD (Oregon Parks and Recreation Department) Local Government Grant Awards. An additional $800,000 came from the  Sandy Urban Renewal Agency to specially fund the upper and lower parking projects in concordance with the recommendations from the ADA advisory team, bringing the total to $2,591,146 for the overall Meinig Park renovation.  

The Meinig Park paths will be repaved and widened to meet ADA standards while improving the safety for everyone walking anywhere in the park. In 2025, representatives from the ADA and Sandy City officials walked through the park, offering valuable suggestions the City of Sandy took to heart in their preparations to improve safety and extend longevity.

Rundell has been a constant presence throughout the whole planning and development process.  “The walk-throughs with the ADA team gave us really good ideas to improve safety. We are going to use those ideas and add some of our own to continue our plan to improve Meinig Park, so that everyone can enjoy a safer park experience and will be able to access central features like the stage, the gazebo, and the playground.” said Rundell.

Here is a breakdown of the Meinig Park upgrades.

The parking lot project:  The upper lot behind City Hall and Joe’s Donuts will be repaved and the lower lot will both be repaved, and ADA stalls will be added. The goal is to have this completed by June of 2026 in time for Mountain Days.

Park Pathways:  Paths will be widened for better crowd movement and safety for any persons walking or rolling through the park. Access to all of the park amenities, such as the gazebo and the stage will be possible. 

Lighting:  The entire park path will be lit.

New Bathroom:  The ADA accessible bathroom will be built on the grounds between the lower lot and the park with ramped access.  

Replacing facilities:  Upgrading or replacing aging picnic shelters, and the  Fantasy Forest Playground will have a new design. Hillside seating will be installed for the music and movie goers. 

Maintaining Meinig Park is vital to Sandy’s tourism industry. Meinig Park is Sandy’s oldest park, and has been home to the historical Sandy Mountain Days Festival since 1972.