Being a participating member of your community is important. It is a great way to expand your own horizons and get to know the people in your neighborhood. There are many ways to go about this, but one of the ways is to get involved with your local community center. Teaching our children to participate as respectable members of society will carry positive, lasting results throughout their lives. Whether joining a sports team, dance troop, or chess club, connecting with others makes for well-rounded individuals. Community centers are great resources that help people find activities they enjoy and a way to participate in them. They also offer many other events that may be totally new to someone, which they can try out to see if they enjoy it. Furthermore, community centers offer a wide variety of activities that don’t require a commitment to a team or club. Some examples of this might be open-swim hours or basketball courts for pickup games. People come together for community, and community centers help to make this happen.
Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District, often referred to simply as THPRD, is a phenomenal organization with many events offered throughout the year. One of the ways THPRD gives back to the community is through its volunteer efforts. On March 1st, families can join a volunteer group to help remove English ivy from the natural areas in the Hyland Woods. The volunteer hours for this are from 9:00am to 11:30am. Another volunteer opportunity for families is on March 8th from 9:00am to 11:30am to help spruce up the Community Garden at Ridgewood Park. Volunteer efforts include helping with the weeding and mulch, and all tools will be provided. Many other ongoing volunteer efforts can be found on the THPRD website under their Events tab at the top of the page. This is not only an excellent way to help give back to your community but also a wonderful way to help teach our children the importance of responsibility.
THPRD does so much more than just offering volunteer opportunities. They have a thriving network of sports fields, such as baseball and soccer. In addition, they have swimming pools, basketball courts, and gyms. There is so much being offered through the THPRD system that you may even have a hard time deciding which events you would like your family to participate in. One of these events is the Sunset Shamrock Splash, a St. Patrick’s Day celebration involving open swim, snacks, and crafts. The event is on Saturday, March 15th, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. The In-District cost for the event is $10, while the Out-of-District cost is $12. The location for this event is at the Sunset Swim Center, and the address is 13707 NW Science Park Dr. Another upcoming event is at their Conestoga location and is called the Spring Wipeout. On April 11th, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm, families can adventure through a giant inflatable wipeout obstacle course in their large swimming pool. This activity will be a great way to kick off the upcoming spring season.
Another aspect that THPRD oversees are nature trails and parks. One of these amazing areas is the Tualatin Hills Nature Park. Located at 15655 SW Millikan Way, this nature park sits at just over 225 acres and is a great place to explore with your family. The trails are wide and walkable, with clear signage to help you navigate the park. Another fun aspect of this park is that it is totally free to hike through. There is also the Regional Trails. These windy pathways provide access to 81 different outdoor sites and three indoor facilities. You can even just stay on the paved pathways for a scenic walk. Remember, these trails are very long, so make sure to set a time just for how far you want to be out. THPRD also has the Babette Horenstein Tennis Center, located at 15707 SW Walker Rd. Beaverton, OR 97006. This activity center includes 15 tennis courts – six indoor courts and eight outdoor courts. The courts are also covered fall to spring for year-round use, and a stadium court for special events. There are many more features at THPRD, and it is very much worth it to see the other activities that are available. Incredible activities are offered through THPRD throughout the year, so you can always stay busy. Whether you’re looking for a place for your family to regularly attend or maybe just a one-off class, you will surely find it at THPRD.
Alex is a devoted husband and father born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He is a professional artist, author, and advisor for both Yale and Harvard University’s arts departments. His book, ‘Selling Leonardo: The Art World’s Greatest Scandal’ is available wherever books are sold.