Lango Hansen releases Murdock Park plans
The park could see updates that include accessible play structures, bathrooms, trails, and a pavilion
SHERWOOD, Ore. — Murdock Park’s expansion is moving forward.
The City of Sherwood hosted an open house on Monday, March 30 for community members to come check out the two possible options for Murdock Park’s master plan — and vote on their favorite.
The effort focuses on adding to and enhancing the existing play structure, with the goal of preserving key elements of the current playground while expanding play opportunities to better serve children of all ages and abilities.
Portland-based Lango Hansen took on the design work in November 2025, which is slated for final completion in May after a round of community voting. Lango Hansen’s Carly Boise said the community was super involved with the design of the park.
“They heard there wasn’t a lot of accessible features in other playgrounds, so we were really trying to focus on accessibility for the playground (with) things that are transferable for mobility device users, along with other play things that are sensory,” Boise said. “What makes it unique is for that push to get accessible play equipment for community members.”
Key takeaways that the community previously asked for include a new covered pond overlook, a picnic shelter, a restroom, curving trails, and an upgraded, accessible playground.
“We definitely got feedback from the community wanting to keep the current structure. It’s relatively new, so it’s in good shape,” Boise said. “We’re now wanting to get the community involved to see what other play pieces that you want.”
Now, options that community members can weigh in on include nature-inspired playground pieces; games like chess tables, hopscotch, cornhole, and painted mazes; musical flowers, a log scramble, and leaf climbers; an inclusive swing set and inclusive spinning dome; and a communications board with pictures and symbols.
“It’s just been a great process, and I’m excited to see what the community likes today between the options,” Boise said. “We want to make it 100% construction-ready documents, so when the project does become funded, then they can hit the ground running.”
Darren Caniparoli, operations supervisor with the City of Sherwood, said the goal in updating the park is to add more walking trails, a bigger play area, and a restroom, which it currently doesn’t have.
“Those are probably three of the biggest ones, and a bigger covered area, pavilion-style,” Caniparoli said.
However, the project currently is not funded.
“Right now it’s based on grants. The idea is to have a shovel-ready project, which will help get the grants, and then get the grants to be able to fund the project,” Caniparoli said.
