> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.canbychronicle.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Daphne Glen Park Celebrates Grand Opening
- URL: https://www.canbychronicle.com/d/
- Published: 2026-09-01T08:00:02.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-01T08:00:02.000Z
- Author: The Canby Chronicle

*By Peter Zinn, For The Canby Chronicle*

Water arced through the air as children raced across the splash pad on a sunny 75-degree day, marking the first official celebration of Canby’s newest public park. Daphne Glen Park, formerly referred to as the Auburn Farms Park Project, opened for public use at N Locust Street and NE 20th Avenue on Aug. 7, with the city holding its grand opening ceremony Aug. 18\. Children sped around the walking path on bikes and scooters, parents relaxed under shade at the new park benches, and adults and kids alike lined up for free Kona Ice snow cones. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/80/8d/808d4196-9a70-43af-ad78-52b23e394d99/content/images/2026/08/Copy-of-SoccerField.jpg)

Daphne Glen Park began construction after the bid for approximately $2.1 million from Konell Construction & Demolition Corp. was accepted in June 2025\. The park was set to open with a splash pad, playground equipment, basketball courts, sheltered picnic areas, benches, and a soccer practice field. In total, the park has been in some stage of planning since at least 2011, and is finally approaching completion in 2026\. Much of the park has been completed for some time, but an official opening was postponed due to a supply chain issue involving the splash pad, contractual issues regarding grass for the park, and the resulting delay in the final safety inspection. With those issues now resolved, and a name chosen, the project has finally reached completion and reached the community that it was designed to serve.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/80/8d/808d4196-9a70-43af-ad78-52b23e394d99/content/images/2026/08/Copy-of-SoccerBalls.jpg)

Throughout the opening ceremony, more of the history of the park was shared by city officials, engineers on the project, and contributors to the physical construction of the park. The park itself was shaped in part by input from the Canby community, with residents having opportunities to share what they wanted from the new recreational space. Over 600 residents responded to the call for feedback in 2023, helping shape plans for the park. Some of the requested amenities were implemented, such as the splash pad, while others weren’t, such as the much-sought-after dog park. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/80/8d/808d4196-9a70-43af-ad78-52b23e394d99/content/images/2026/08/Copy-of-PlayStructureA.jpg)

The name was chosen as a nod to the agricultural history of the area, specifically Canby’s history with the Daphne flower. The ceremony ended with an address from Council President Traci Hensley offering gratitude to the residents of Canby for “patience and trusting us.” Children who had been eyeballing a pile of inflatable soccer balls for multiple hours were then gathered from the corners of the park for a celebratory photo. Each child was given a ball and told to kick it to officially “kick off” the opening of the park. The photographer at the event even went so far as to challenge the kids to try and kick them directly at her. While the kids played, adults were given commemorative coins to remember the opening day.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/80/8d/808d4196-9a70-43af-ad78-52b23e394d99/content/images/2026/08/Copy-of-CoinB.jpg)

Jim Simnitt summed up the intent for the park within the community, drawing particular attention to its accessibility for children. An ADA accessible play structure was designed to allow children of different abilities to use the space alongside one another. As one of the major recreational additions in the city with accessibility specifically in mind, he said that he wanted to ensure that the park was a place for “community members to come together, to laugh, to play, to be together,” and that he was hoping that “we can enjoy this place for many years and many generations.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/80/8d/808d4196-9a70-43af-ad78-52b23e394d99/content/images/2026/08/Copy-of-Bikes.jpg)