5 Things You Didn’t Know About Tigard, Oregon

Tigard is a flourishing city that embraces recreation, local history, and arts and culture. We thought we’d take a look at this thriving Portland suburb and share some of its features you may not be aware of. Before we get to the details, here’s an overview.

Located only ten miles south of Portland in Washington County with a population of 54,500, Tigard is a land-locked community on 11.69 square miles. First occupied for thousands of years by the Alfalati, a band of the Kalapuya, descendants of which remain in the area as members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the city was first named Tigardville after Wilson Tigard, one of its early settlers. In 1907, the railroad shortened the city’s name to identify it from nearby Wilsonville.

Over recent years, the city has undergone a revitalization effort, which has included some of what you’ll learn about below. Learn more about Tigard’s revitalization.

Let’s take a closer look and see what Tigard is all about today.

1. Tigard Values Culture and the Arts

Did you know that Tigard is home to the first musical theater company in the area? Opened in 1991, Broadway Rose Theater Company has been entertaining audiences and enriching the lives of Tigard residents and guests with its mainstage productions and summer children’s musicals to the tune of over 45,000 visits each year. The Company also holds educational camps for kids and adolescents and offers an internship for those interested in a career in theatre.

Take a walk through Tigard’s downtown, and you’ll see the results of the city’s revitalization efforts. Hanging glass baskets and other art pieces bring beauty to this walkable area that’s home to both long-time and burgeoning businesses. Calming walkways with benches surrounded by plants make it a place to go for rest and replenishment. You can even make your own handblown glass or welded art piece, or create an acrylic painting at Live Laugh Love Art.

Every May, Tigard holds its annual Art Week, featuring art showcases and demonstrations, local performers, activities for kids, and refreshments.

2. Tigard is Home to the Area’s Premiere Hot Air Balloon Festival

If you’re in or near Tigard in June, you can’t miss the Festival of Balloons, the only one of its kind in the area. Look to the sky and you’ll see a profusion of bright colors floating overhead, the source being about 20 hot air balloons. Forget sleeping in if you want to experience the grandeur of these giant nylon creations launch pre-dawn. Then, lay back and enjoy the show. Follow that up with live music while you visit the many local food vendor carts, and take the kids for a few carnival rides and games. Stick around for Night Glow, when the balloons are lit and tethered to the ground for an up-close and personal view.

Tigard also has two other festivals worth mentioning. There’s the Fourth of July fireworks celebration and Tigard Blast, a gathering that bids farewell to summer.

3. Tigard is an Outdoor Recreation Oasis

As with many suburbs in the Portland metro area, options for outdoor recreation abound in Tigard. Cook Park, located on the city’s south boundary is a gateway to the Tualatin River. Walk along the trail and you’re sure to see devoted paddlers dropping in their kayaks to head out for a blissful float on the water.

Take a stroll through an oak forest on the Fanno Creek Greenway Trail or the Tualatin River Water Trail between Cook Park and Tualatin Community Park. On the way, catch views of ponds and wetlands and the blanket of flowers that make up Tupling Butterfly Garden.

Fanno Creek is an offshoot of the Tualatin River and runs north-south through Tigard’s eastern side, up to and through Fanno Creek Park. Catch the trailhead here and make your way to Woodard Park, a 15-acre area ensconced in large oaks and ponderosa pines. After that, head to Dirksen Nature Park and Overlook, a 48-acre area with open spaces, wetlands, mature forest, and outdoor nature play equipment.

Another hiking opportunity lies on the Summer Creek Loop Trail, which will take you around the circumference of Summerlake City Park, past Stark Reservoir, a popular fishing hole.

And that’s not all! Other parks and green areas in Tigard include:

Englewood Park—A walker’s park in northwest Tigard with two miles of trails.

Commercial Park—A half-acre park near downtown with a small play structure and a trail connecting Commercial Street and Center Street.

Elizabeth Price Park—A 2.5-acre park on Bull Mountain Rd. built over an underground reservoir that provides water to the city with a winding interpretive trail to a viewpoint and compass inlaid in concrete.

Jack City Park—A 7.3-acre park with two playgrounds, an open grassy area, and a community garden. A small creek runs north-south along the park’s eastern edge, and a trail and pedestrian bridge connects the northern and southern sections of the park.

Bull Mountain Park—A 100-acre park of woods and open spaces with a picnic shelter, nature play structure, accessible trails, and interpretive elements.

Community Gardens—Greenfield, Jack Park, and Metzger.

4. Tigard is a (Tax-Free) Shopping Destination

One of Oregon’s perks is that it doesn’t have a sales tax. This is a real boon when visiting or living in Oregon cities with quality retail therapy options like Bridgeport Village and Washington Square. You can easily spend a full day and then some dining and shopping to your heart’s content at either of these venues.

Bridgeport Village also offers a long and impressive list of top-notch brands, like Banana Republic, Barnes and Noble, Crate and Barrel, Lush, Pendleton, Talbots, and many more. Take a break and enjoy a coffee or at Peet’s, where you’ll find free WiFi. Have lunch at one of the many eateries, duck into a spa for a treat, take in a yoga class, or catch a movie. You won’t want to leave!

At Washington Square, shop Apple, Anne Taylor, Coach, Express, LuLuLemon, Macy’s, Peloton, Pottery Bar, and much, much more. A forever-flowing collection of spots to grab a drink or a snack, or have a full meal is within mere steps.

5. Tigard is a Great Place to Invest in Real Estate

As we wrote in our recent Tigard Real Estate Update, there’s plenty of room on many Tigard properties for ADUs (many large residential lots). Think: rental income! Sections of the city also remain relatively undeveloped—like Sexton and Cooper Mountain—prime spots for future construction.

Owning real estate in Washington County means lower property taxes, too, so it’s a great option for homeowners and investors alike.

Are you Ready for a Real Estate Deal in Tigard?

If you like what you read here, take a look at the homes for sale in Tigard. Then, get in touch with our top 1% buyer’s team or our top 1% seller’s team. Whether you’re looking to buy or whether it’s time for you to leave Tigard behind and relocate, we’re here to help make the transaction as easy and stress-free as possible. Call us directly or chat with the bot on our site. We can’t wait to connect with you!