Bend residents fight to save Troy Field

Dozens of residents came out at a public hearing Wednesday night to voice their concern over a proposal by Bend-La Pine Schools to sell Troy Field, a decades-old patch of downtown green, to a developer planning a hotel on the site.

Neighbors living near the unofficial park say officials with the school district need to offer more ideas other than that selling the land would be a financial solution for schools.

After a public hearing was twice rescheduled, the session on what to do with the lot owned by the school district was a lively one, with many residents letting school officials know they want the piece of land to stay as is.

“So the only argument they’ve made is, ‘Well, we need the money and we don’t need this land and we should sell it,'” said Bend resident Susie Newcome.

Officials about a year ago that the district would declare the land surplus and sell it to raise money to help build new schools.

The buyer is offering $1.9 million, they said.

As a public agency, the school district has a responsibility to maximize the use of land it owns, Bend La Pine School Board Co-Chair Juba Nori said. If the land is not being used to educate students, then it needs to be used to benefit students in another way.

District officials say the property does not fit into their plans because they cannot use it to build a new school.

The city will need to remove a zoning designation declaring the land a civic and public space.

The land is already zoned for commercial use, but residents say a commercial enterprise there would only cause more headaches for downtown drivers.

“I think a hotel there would absolutely cause more traffic,” resident Jennifer Layton said.

Many residents testified that Troy Field has a long history. They talked about the football games played on the field and an ice rink that was created during the winter.

For Susie Newcome, Troy Field reminds her of when she attended St. Francis School next door.

“My biggest memory is being in Troy Field and being one of the girls playing football with all of the guys,” Newcome said.

For now, the field will remain while the process plays out. But for Newcome, it’s not about her memories, but the ones of future generations.

“If we build upon it, it will never be there again, ever for future generations ever more,” Newcome said.

The hearing officer’s decision on the zone change, expected early next year, won’t be the last step. It still has to go to the Bend City Council, and if approved, the city will need to review and approve any new use of the site.