Bend Metro Park and Recreation District Director Position 5 Choose 1
Special districts in Oregon are formed to provide specific local government needs. They are created by a vote of the people in the local area being served. Examples include people’s utility districts, library districts, water districts, fire protection districts, and more. They are governed by a board of directors, which is responsible for management and financial accountability. Special districts are empowered to levy any necessary taxes and fees to fulfill their mandate. Board members are not paid but may receive a per diem reimbursement.Park and recreation districts in Oregon are responsible for providing a range of recreation services including parks, open spaces, pools, and more. Their boards set policy and manage the budgets for those resources.Qualifications: Candidate must be a registered voter in the district. ORS 226.310(2)Term: 4 years
Biographical Information
Town Where You Live
Bend
Your Experience/Qualifications
40 years as a park and recreation professional in a special district park system. I have served on the Bend Park and Recreation board of directors since 2020. I was a member of the BPRD Foundation for two years
County
OR
Term
2025-2029
Term Expires
2029
What skills and experience would you bring to this position?
I worked as a park and recreation professional in the Portland Metro area for forty years. During that time, I focused on recreation program management, strategic plan development, public involvement, employee development, performance management, and financial oversight.
I have served on the Bend Park and Recreation District (BPRD) board since 2020 and was on the BPRD foundation board for two years.
Do you think there are ways the District’s facilities could generate revenue that are not currently being explored—and if so, what are they?
BPRD staff and the board always contemplate the generation of new and innovative revenue streams. When researching new sources of income, we remain aware of the need to keep our programs and facilities affordable and available to all community members. The citizens of Bend support the district generously, and we attempt to keep that at the forefront of our financial decisions.
Currently, we are reviewing concessions in our facilities as a means to produce additional revenue.
What are the most pressing needs for the District that you would like to address?
We need to provide park and trail facilities in underserved areas and accommodate our community's tremendous growth. This is made difficult by the immense cost of land and the lack of availability in existing neighborhoods. Our community needs assessment continues to place trails as the highest priority, so we must be creative in acquiring the land necessary to build these well-loved amenities.