Major Expansion Underway at Wes Howard Memorial Sports Park in NW Medford

Medford, Oregon- A major new phase of development is underway at Wes Howard Memorial Sports Park in northwest Medford, with a broad range of family-friendly recreational amenities slated to take shape in the coming months. Located adjacent to the Rogue Credit Union Community Complex (RogueX), the 50-acre site will soon become a hub for sports, leisure, and community gathering.

The upcoming improvements include a new neighborhood park, a dedicated pickleball facility, three sand volleyball courts, three youth ballfields, a Vietnam War Memorial, and 260 additional parking spaces to support increased park usage.

Neighborhood Park

Serving more than 2,000 residents within a half-mile radius, the new neighborhood park will feature a playground, a basketball court, picnic tables with shade structures, a walking path, and an 89-stall parking lot. The basketball court, while smaller in overall size, will offer a full court with two hoops — a standard feature in Medford’s neighborhood park design.

Lithia & Driveway Pickleball Courts

In response to growing public interest, the park will include the Lithia & Driveway Pickleball Courts — set to become the largest municipal pickleball facility in the region. The open-access complex will initially house 19 lighted courts, with potential for six more in a future construction phase.

The $1.8 million construction cost is being supported by Howard Memorial Sports Park, Inc., the City of Medford, fundraising efforts by the Southern Oregon Pickleball Association, and a long-term naming rights agreement with Lithia Motors, Inc.

The venue is expected to draw regional and national tournaments while offering daily drop-in use and programmatic play.

Sand Volleyball and Youth Ballfields

Three collegiate-quality sand volleyball courts will be installed on the south side of the park, nearly doubling the city’s existing inventory for this popular outdoor sport.

On the west side, construction will begin on three youth ballfields and accompanying batting cages. The fields are sized to accommodate 12-and-under baseball and 18-and-under fastpitch softball. City officials say there is a pressing need for additional fields to meet the high demand for youth sports practices and games.

Vietnam War Memorial

Also nearing completion is a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, which will feature the names of more than 58,000 service members who died in the Vietnam War. The project, led by Southern Oregon Veterans Benefit, has been years in the making and is supported by Howard Memorial Sports Park, Inc., and numerous Rogue Valley businesses.

A Legacy Honored

The development is part of a long-term vision guided by the Last Will and Testament of Wesley Howard, whose estate was probated in Jackson County Circuit Court in 2003. The property is owned by Howard Memorial Sports Park, Inc., and is being developed in partnership with the City of Medford.

“The City of Medford is excited to partner with the Howard Memorial Sports Park board of directors and other community organizations to help make Wes Howard’s dying wish come true in terms of his longtime homestead being developed to benefit children and families of Medford,” Parks and Recreation Director Rich Rosenthal said. “I think he’d be pleased about what is happening.”

Construction is set to begin this fall, with most features expected to be completed in 2026.