Bend Metro Park and Recreation District Director Position 3
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
Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.
-
Nathan Hovekamp
(N)
What skills and experience would you bring to this position?
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?
What are the most pressing needs for the District that you would like to address?
Your Experience/Qualifications
Bend Park & Recreation Board, 2015-present (served as Chair three times); Deschutes County Planning Commission, 2022-present; City of Bend Planning Commission, 2004-12 (two years as Chair); Bend-La Pine School Board, 2004-08 (one year as Chair).
I've lived in Bend for 28 years and been active for most of that time in community leadership: on the Bend Park & Rec Board now for 10 years, but also on both the Deschutes County and City of Bend Planning Commissions and the Bend-La Pine School Board. I am a biologist and educator and have also worked in environmental conservation and had several seasonal positions as a naturalist at state and national parks & forests.
Public parks, trails, and natural areas should not necessarily generate revenue; they should be free for all to enjoy. Recreational facilities and programs charge fees that help defray costs but that should be affordable. Those fees should be and are structured very carefully according to a cost recovery model that is regularly reevaluated. The district should continue its extraordinary commitments to equitable distribution of developed amenities, accessibility, and affordability.
The most challenging issue for the district remains keeping up with population growth. We need to carefully plan additional parkland acquisitions in order to maintain our level of service while at the same time taking care to maintain what we already have. We need to complete our trail system by filling in the remaining gaps and connections, most especially in our beloved Deschutes River Trail. We also need to continue to live up to our responsibilities in natural resource stewardship, as the community entrusts us with some of its most precious amenities, including much of the Deschutes River through town, Tumalo Creek through Shevlin Park, and native vegetation, like many of our big heritage Ponderosa Pine Trees.
To make a selection for a candidate you must first find your races. Would you like to find your races now?
You have already selected the maximum number of candidates for this race.
You must uncheck an existing selection before making another selection.