West Medford’s Jackson Park to Receive New Splash Pad and Other Major Upgrades

MEDFORD, Ore. (Aug. 25, 2026) — A major renovation of one of Medford’s oldest parks is moving forward, with plans calling for a new splash park, dog park, expanded walking paths and upgrades to athletic facilities at Jackson Park in west Medford.

The Medford Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department has submitted a Park Development Review application for the 10.5-acre park at 815 Summit Ave. The project is scheduled for review by the city’s Land Development Committee on Sept. 2.

Jackson Park was built in 1960 and has been the site of the city’s aquatic center and Fagone Field, which served as Medford’s primary high school fast-pitch field for decades. The renovation is part of a mult-phase modernization effort based on the park’s 2022 master plan.

New splash park planned

The centerpiece of the renovation will be a new 3,638-square-foot splash park on the east side of the property, where the former swimming pool complex stood.

The city demolished the 63-year-old pool, decking, restroom and an asphalt tennis court in May 2026. The proposed splash pad will include above-ground and ground-level spray features, concrete seating areas, shade canopies, picnic tables, benches, bike racks and a four-stall public restroom.

Water from the splash pad will be collected, filtered, chemically treated and stored in the renovated aquatic building for reuse.

Despite the addition of the splash park and related improvements, the project is not expected to result in a net increase in impermeable surface area. The city says 22,363 square feet of impermeable surface was removed during the May demolition, while the new splash park, paths and restroom account for about 16,091 square feet.

Dog park and future amenities

Plans also call for a fenced dog park of just over 10,000 square feet on the north side of Jackson Park.

The dog park will have two double-gated entrances, including one directly connected to the parking lot along Clark Street. The facility will include walking paths, a shaded ADA-accessible bench and a pet drinking fountain.

The site plan also reserves approximately 6,000 square feet for a future amenity. The city has not yet determined what will occupy that space. According to the application, the decision will be made closer to construction through a public process involving the Medford Parks and Recreation Commission.

Walking loop, ballfield and basketball court upgrades

The renovation would replace the park’s aging path network, much of which dates to the 1960s and 1970s.

The plan includes 600 linear feet of new, 10-foot-wide asphalt path along the south side of the park. The new section would complete an approximately 0.3-mile walking loop around Fagone Field and improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity.

Fagone Field, which received fencing, lighting, dugout, bleacher and scoreboard improvements in 2022 and 2023, is also slated for additional upgrades. The proposal includes synthetic turf and a food truck parking space equipped with electricity and water hookups near the bleachers.

The basketball court would receive new acrylic surfacing, polycarbonate backboards and fencing. The nine-space parking lot on N. Columbus Avenue would also be resurfaced.

Aquatic building to be preserved

Rather than demolishing the park’s 1960s-era aquatic building, the city plans to restore it.

The 2,500-square-foot concrete masonry building has a distinctive butterfly-style roof. Planned work includes replacing the roof, damaged beams and ceiling decking, along with repairs to interior and exterior infrastructure.

After renovation, the building will serve as a utility and storage facility for the splash park while retaining elements of its mid-century character.

Parking and access changes

The project would make several changes to park access and parking.

Jackson Park currently has three vehicle-accessible parking areas: a 37-space lot on W. Clark Street, a nine-space lot on N. Columbus Avenue and four spaces on the east side of the park near Summit Avenue. The Clark Street lot includes two ADA spaces.

Three standard spaces in the Clark Street lot would be removed to accommodate the new food truck area near Fagone Field.

The plan also calls for five bicycle racks capable of accommodating 10 bicycles, located near the splash pad and playground.

A new maintenance-only vehicle access point would be created along Clark Street to serve the splash park restroom. It would not be available for public vehicle access.

Tree preservation and lighting

The city plans to preserve Jackson Park’s mature trees while restoring turf, replacing the irrigation system and planting additional trees as improvements are completed.

The application also calls for new security and pathway lighting. The city says the lighting will be designed to provide safety while minimizing impacts on surrounding residential properties.

The splash pad is planned to operate during daytime summer hours, when the adjacent Jackson Elementary School is closed. The city states that the proposed park operations are not expected to create vibration, air pollution, glare or odor impacts.

Four-phase project

The renovation is planned in four phases.

The first phase — demolition of the old swimming pool, diving pool, wading pool and restroom — was completed in May 2026.

Phase two, involving repairs to the aquatic building, is scheduled for fall 2026. Phase three, construction of the new splash park, is scheduled for completion in summer 2027.

The remaining park improvements will be completed during a fourth phase as funding becomes available.

The proposed renovation is consistent with the Jackson Park Master Plan adopted by the Parks Commission in July 2022 following public outreach. That plan identified a splash pad, expanded recreation facilities, walking paths, a dog park, basketball court improvements and other amenities as potential improvements for the park.

The Land Development Committee is scheduled to consider the project at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 2. The meeting is planned as a Zoom webinar, according to the city’s development review documents.

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