2025 #ClackCo Highlights

In October, the new Oak Lodge Library and the Concord Park and Community Center opened after years of efforts by county staff (including the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District) and members of the community. The new 15,300-square-foot library completes a one-library, two-branch model to the Oak Lodge and Gladstone areas. The new two-acre park boasts an inclusive, nature-based play area, playfields, picnic areas and more! Plus, the Concord building is being saved for use as a community center with safety and accessibility improvements. 

In responding to the homelessness crisis, we are laser-focused on achieving our goals. In 2025, the county served 3,554 households with rent vouchers; 100 new affordable apartments were opened at Blossom & Community in Milwaukie; 37 new shelter spaces were opened; and 200 new affordable homes began construction at Clackamas Heights in Oregon City! We launched a new economic empowerment program that helps formerly homeless people increase income, overcome barriers,and transition away from rental assistance. And our Community Preservation program completed health-and-safety-critical home repairs, accessibility upgrades, and energy-efficiency measures for 68 low-income households. 

We're doing what we can to bring, retain and grow businesses here in the county. This past year, our Business Development Grant program helped fund trade-sector businesses seeking to grow their operations in the region. The program helps businesses expand production, invest in new technologies, or train employees. A total of $650,000 was available this year, investing in the workforce, innovation, and competitiveness that drive our region forward, sustaining and creating jobs! Watch how we've helped Photo Solutions, Miles Fiberglass, and the Overland Van Project!

In May, the new Clackamas County Courthouse opened, providing residents with a safer and more secure place to seek justice. The building provides significantly more room – including enough courtrooms for our growing population – and security for courthouse staff and visitors. With the new space, victims of violence are no longer forced to come into contact in hallways with the same people who committed those crimes. The building will serve residents well for decades to come.

Our roads division is always looking to improve safety and capacity with the limited funds we have available. This year's progress includes the Stafford Road project in Stafford, which adds a roundabout, realigns a road to eliminate intersection skew and reduce steep slopes, adds a southbound left-turn at Johnson Road, widens a road to add bike lanes, and replaces a culvert. 

Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES) concluded its Tunnel Boring Machine project, which built a ½-mile-long, 9-foot-diameter tunnel to carry treated water from the Tri-City Plant in Oregon City to the Willamette River, which will be large enough to provide service for decades to come. A resident came up with the name of the machine, the Clack-A-Mole! 
 

The Clackamas County Stabilization Center opened in November. It's a long-awaited and needed critical piece to our recovery-oriented system of care. The center operates 24/7 for residents experiencing crises like panic attacks, hallucinations, or other mental health conditions, and is a safe place for community members who need short-term support, coping skills, and connections to resources to manage a crisis. The site offers transitional housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. 

Many homeless people need structured support, supervision, and skill-building to move into stable and permanent housing. In May, we opened the Clackamas Village, a new transitional shelter community, modeled after the county's successful Vets Village. With 24 total housing units, the village is a safe place for individuals who are homeless to overcome trauma, tackle barriers to obtaining housing, and rebuild a support network. 
 

 In August, we launched our ClackCo Works podcast to share what the county is doing to serve our community. learn how we are improving resident lives with topics like road maintenance, our parks system, volunteering, veterans services, disaster response, and our recovery-oriented system of care, there's something for everyone! 

That’s just a quick look at some of the work accomplished across Clackamas County in 2025. County commissioners and staff are already gearing up for another year of meaningful projects and progress in 2026. Have a safe and happy New Year!