Animal Park Coming to Hillsboro

A Walk on the Wild Side is walking over to unincorporated Washington County.

Steve Higgs, who runs the park with his wife, Cheryl, hopes to open up in May.

They have signed a lease on an equestrian center at 29875 NW Victory Lane, not far from Hillsboro Airport.

"We're very excited about this," Steve Higgs told Patch. "It's going to be a new start with a new facility."

The park had been in Canby for 25 years but was forced to close last year during a zoning dispute with Clackamas County.

"It was unfortunate," Higgs said. :We really felt we tried to do everything that we could to make them happy.

"It just didn't work out."

Higgs says they are working on converting part of the equestrian facility to house their animals. He says there will still be a place for horses there.

"The horses that board there now won't have to move," he said. "The place is big enough that our animals will in an entirely separate area."

Walk on the Wild Side has, at times, hosted, lions tigers, tortoises, and bears.

They also have a permit from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to have prohibited species.

"We are looking forward to this," Higgs said. "We are looking forward to being a part of the community."

Higgs said once the park is open they reach out charities such as Make-a-Wish top host events.