LAKE OSWEGO
Lake Oswego is located on the northwest corner of Clackamas County, just eight mile south of Portland. The city’s close proximity to I-5, Highway 43, Highway 217, and I-205 offers easy commute to workplaces in downtown Portland, Wilsonville and Salem. The city is located adjacent to the scenic Willamette River, with the beautiful 405-acre Oswego Lake at its center. Residents and city officials point to the city’s emphasis on planning and community involvement as one of its strengths.

Residents agree on the community’s   strong school district. With an enrollment of more than 7,000 students, Lake Oswego offers nine elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. Students of all ages enjoy a low student-to-teacher ratio – in most cases, 23 students per instructor. Both high schools, Lake Oswego High School and Lakeridge High School, have been selected as two of the nation’s most outstanding secondary schools in the US Department of Education’s national Secondary schools Recognition Award program.  More than 80 percent of the community’s   students proceed to college after graduation. The city is also conveniently located near higher educational institutions such as Lewis and Clark College, Marylhurst University and the Sylvania Campus for Portland Community College.

In additional to its excellent schools, Lake Oswego provides valuable community resources such as a public library, an award-winning Adult Community Center, and a wide variety of parks, recreational areas and open spaces. The Lake Oswego Public Library, built in 1983, is centrally located on Fourth Street and includes some 185,000 volumes in its collection. Current programs offered through the library include summer reading clubs for children; crafts programs for children and teens, book clubs and computer instructions for adults.

Residents of all ages enjoy Lake Oswego’s vast range of parks, recreational areas and pathways. Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation offers 24 developed parks, 2 public swimming facilities at Oswego Lake, a water sports center on the Willamette River, and indoor and outdoor tennis facilities.  George Rogers Park, is a 26-acre park that offers access to the scenic Willamette River, 2 baseball/softball fields, a soccer field,  2 covered picnic shelters, memorial garden area, restrooms, playground, and 2 outdoor tennis courts.

Other neighborhood attractions for Lake Oswego’s 36,370 residents are the Millennium Plaza Park, the Roehr Park, the Oswego Lake, the Tryon Creek State Park, the Lake Oswego Farmer’s Market, the Lake View Village, the Bridgeport Village and the Lake Oswego Golf Course.

WEST LINN
Located south of Lake Oswego along the Willamette River, West Linn boasts access to a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities and has breathtaking views of Mount Hood and the Willamette River. With an abundance of open green space it is host to many community and neighborhood parks.

Willamette Park and Bernert Landing Boat Ramp are located at the convergence where the Tualatin River meets the Willamette River. The 15-acre scenic park offers residence several recreational amenities including two large picnic shelters, a stage area, 3 softball fields, 2 volleyball courts, and 5 horseshoe pits.  Additionally, Cedar Island Park, Sunset Park, Hammerle Park, and Tanner Creek Park are popular spots for picnics and other outdoor activities for the whole family.

The West Linn – Wilsonville School District, which includes Bolton Primary School, Rosemont Ridge Middle School, and West Linn High School, focuses on academic excellence, personalized education and community partnerships.

A quick 25-minute commute to Portland by I*205, or Highway 43 or McLoughlin Boulevard, West Linn is the perfect suburb for anyone who wants easy access to the city but enjoys the great outdoors.

TUALATIN
Increasing numbers of homeowners are flocking to Sherwood, Tigard or Tualatin, transforming it into a vibrant suburban epicenter. The area is attracting buyers because of its proximity to I-205, Highway 217 and Highway 99W, the favorable tax structure and excellent amenities.

Upscale shopping has also found its way to Tualatin with Bridgeport Village, an outdoor, European style shopping center that offers residents an exclusive mix of the nation’s finest upscale shops and restaurants that serve northwest and ethnic cuisine.

Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy kayaking on the Tualatin River, bicycling through local parks, or strolling along miles of pedestrian trails. In addition to ample green space, the city is home to an abundance of wildlife. The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, a 1,200-acre site that restores and protects wetland habitats, is home to bald eagles, Canada geese, peregrine falcons, migratory songbird, waterfowl and fish.

The Tualatin Crawfish Festival is an annual fundraiser event that draws thousands of crustacean lovers from across the Northwest and was voted the “Best Festival in Oregon” by the Oregon Festival and Events Association.

BEAVERTON
Once established as a quiet farming community connected to the city of Portland by a system of plank roads and railroad tracks, the cities of Aloha and Beaverton have grown into bustling, vibrant communities known for abundant and diverse housing opportunities, close-knit neighborhoods, and excellent school system.

Part of the attraction to Beaverton is the abundance of parks, sports facilities, natural areas, waterways and trails provided by the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District. From basketball to swimming Beaverton residents can find what they are looking for at one of the district’s many facilities.  The city also boasts the Tualatin Hill Natural Park, a 219-acre wildlife reserve where visitors to the park can enjoy hiking trails, an interpretive center and a variety of outdoor recreation and environmental education classes.

Beaverton’s strong sense of community extends from its neighborhood and parks to the special events that occur every year.  Offering produce from more than 90 growers in the Pacific Northwest, the Beaverton Farmer’s Market is the largest agricultural-only farmer’s market in the region, recognized twice in Sunset Magazine’s “Best of the West” column.

“SummerFest” Presented by Nike signals the arrival of Summer. It features performances by national recognized artists, sports activities, a Saturday parade and plenty of food booths which benefit local non-profit organizations.

Beaverton also boasts the third largest school district in the state and one of the most ethnically diverse where more than 70 languages are spoken.

Highway 217, which runs through the city, provides easy access to destinations such as Washington square Mall, Beaverton Mall and other retail areas along the Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway/Canyon Road and I-5. In addition, the 18 mile Westside “blue line” MAX extension provides light rail transportation between Portland and the western suburbs of Beaverton and Hillsboro.

Amongst the key employers in the Beaverton area are Nike, IBM, Tektronix, Columbia Sportswear, Verizon Northwest Telecommunication and Maxim Integrated Products.