In 1997, ownership of Central Elementary School was transferred from the Newberg School District to the Chehalem Parks and Recreation District (CPRD) for one dollar to serve the greater Chehalem Valley by remaining in the public domain. In the succeeding years CPRD together with the Chehalem Center Association (CCA), a volunteer community based support organization, has moved forward with planning and initial rehabilitation to transform the school into the Chehalem Cultural Center (CCC) – as "a revitalized community asset open to all."