City of Hillsboro, OR

05/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/13/2026 15:24

‘Cloud Nest’ sculpture still slated for Shute Park

The highly anticipated interactive public art sculpture planned for Shute Park is still underway despite project delays.

After initial concepts were released, the steel dome design moved to the engineering phase where it was revised to accommodate safety and accessibility concerns.

While the timeline has been modified from the original schedule, artist Becky Borlan and the City of Hillsboro Public Art Division continue to move forward with enthusiasm in delivering this one-of-a-kind attraction at Hillsboro's oldest park.

Cloud Nest is expected to be installed by the end of 2026, replacing an underutilized planter bed that was located near the playground in Shute Park. Initial site work and clearing has already been completed.

The artist recently issued new renderings, reflecting shifts to the initial conceptual design released in 2024. The dome will be elevated, instead of the panels stretching to the ground, with cut patterns inspired by artwork created during hands-on community workshops in 2025.

Cloud Nest artist Becky Borlan was selected through a highly competitive national search by a committee of community members with ties to the Shute Park area and/or a background in public art. Read more about the artist and selection process.

Becky drew inspiration for the design from researching and visiting Hillsboro, citing influences from papel picado, Buckminster Fuller and geodesic domes, a soccer ball, quilts, and traditional plazas and town squares. Read more about the project design.

She also incorporated feedback from thousands of community members who shared ideas and opinions through multi-year engagement efforts. Read more about Cloud Nest community engagement.

Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Resources

City of Hillsboro, OR published this content on May 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 13, 2026 at 21:24 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]