Published in the West Linn Tidings on August 27, 2015:
We all know what a great place West Linn is to live, play and raise families. But now the word about our idyllic town is spreading.
It seems like each month West Linn has made a new list of top places to live. Here are some highlights from just this year alone:
Family Circle Magazine placed West Linn as one of the top 10 cities to raise a family. “Living in West Linn often feels like an abundance of riches. This town 10 miles south of Portland boasts stunning backdrops and plenty of family-friendly activities.”
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CNN/Money Magazine ranked West Linn No. 38 out of 50 in its Best Places to Live 2015. “Locals can catch up and get to know each other at the farmers market, movie nights and concerts in Tanner Creek Park, one of many parks in this leafy little town.”
Movoto named West Linn No. 2 out of five for Best Portland Suburbs to Live. “West Linn is full of over 600 acres of well-maintained city parks for nature lovers to enjoy, with plenty of outdoor recreation options including hiking, biking, wildlife watching, and boating.”
Only in Your State named us as the safest and most peaceful place to live in Oregon! “Want to live within close proximity of the big city, without having to deal with the hassle of big city crime? West Linn had only five violent crimes occur in 2012… Now that sounds secure.”
West Linn was once again named in the top 100 safest cities by Neighborhood Scout — the only town in Oregon to make the list.
West Linn was cited as the third safest in Oregon and the safest big city by Value Penguin and HomeSnacks called us the fifth best place to live in Oregon. “Mix a ton of parks and walking trails without fear of getting your bike stolen and you’ve got a great place to live.”
And year after year, West Linn is named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, and let’s not forget our repeated awards every year for excellence in financial reporting.
All these recognitions tells me one thing — we must be doing something right. In fact, we must be doing a lot of things right.
Our Parks and Recreation Department works hard all year to maintain our parks and to offer fun, family-friendly activities. The West Linn Police Department keeps us safe. The Finance Department keeps our budget on track. Our school district gives our children the gift of a bright future. And the people in this community truly look out for each other and care about each other and the city’s future.
It is a blessing for me and my family to call West Linn home.
