A year of growth and gratitude
This past fiscal year, NCPRD staff served our residents with ceaseless appreciation for this diverse and thriving community. By continually creating and improving program offerings, and finding new ways to enhance and protect our region’s parks and natural areas, we seek to enrich the lives of everyone in the district by providing inclusive connections to nature, healthy living and one another.
NCPRD 2022–2023
YEAR IN REVIEW
North Clackamas
Aquatic Park
With a 40% increase in visitors, North Clackamas Aquatic Park provided a fun, local escape for residents and families seeking thrilling rides down twisting slides and wave pool adventures. Just as importantly, we also increased our delivery of aquatic fitness, education and safety programs, including a partnership with the Oregon Summer Learning Grant and Randall Children’s Hospital that offered a variety of free swimming opportunities promoting community health and well-being. This past year, we were thrilled to expand our services to meet rising community demand, including by increasing our swim lesson program capacity by 26%.
“The swim teachers communicate a lot of joy when working with the kids. I appreciate how they take care to create a safe learning environment.”
—NCPRD resident
Recreation and Sports
Our team was proud to deliver a variety of recreational programs and enriching experiences for residents, helping to create an active and healthy community. From sports leagues and fitness classes to art lessons and tai chi, there was something for all ages, interests and abilities. We enjoyed an influx of participants this year, including a record enrollment for Shooting Stars, our basketball program for players with additional needs. We also served 134 district youths with six completely free summer camps, thanks to grant funding from the Oregon Association of Education Service Districts. Our summer season was particularly bustling, with NCPRD staff rising to meet an increased demand for summer camps by adding 15 more camps and increasing our offerings by 68%.
“This was a very fun class, and a wonderful workout for the mind, body and soul. The excellent and knowledgeable instructor made the class fun and offered a variety of levels so everyone could enjoy at their own pace.” —NCPRD resident
“We loved camp! My son went every day and ran to the car with excitement! The camp was just what we needed for our special needs young adult.” —NCPRD resident
Events
In addition to continuing our beloved signature events, including Movies in the Park and Winter Celebrations, we were excited to offer a variety of new events that brought the community together for enriching experiences and family-friendly fun. We celebrated the rich diversity in the district by offering a Lunar New Year Celebration and Fiesta Latina en el Parque, and provided social gathering opportunities for all abilities with inclusive dances and socials. This year also saw the triumphant return of Concerts in the Park, which had 1,200 residents dancing to free, live, outdoor music at Milwaukie Bay Park and enjoying serene classical melodies at North Clackamas Park.
”It's really nice to have (this event) just right in my backyard so that we can enjoy our own culture with our community, share our food, share our music, share our art and show that we are here and we're not going anywhere.”
—NCPRD resident
Older Adult Services
We take immense pride in providing the older adults of our community with essential services at the Milwaukie Community Center—including free and low-cost meals, blood pressure checks, and opportunities for social connection—that make their lives healthier and more vibrant. Throughout the year, our staff provided case management services to support more than 500 residents. We also saw a significant increase in the Center’s Congregate Meal Program, an in-person meals service that provides nutritious, low-cost meals to anyone over the age of 60. And to ensure that every resident has the chance to move around their community, NCPRD’s Transportation Program received two new lift-equipped buses at no charge through the District’s partner agency, Ride Connection.
“Thank you for the work that you do; it is very much needed and welcomed. Your Meals on Wheels program delivers to my mother and brother in Milwaukie, and it has been a lifesaver.”
—NCPRD resident
Parks, Trails and Natural Areas
Throughout the year, our team continued to find new ways to protect and enhance our region’s vital parks and greenspaces. For example, NCPRD staff worked to make Alma Myra Park more attractive, healthy and accessible for people and pollinators alike. In addition to planting native, pollen-rich plants to attract and nurture local pollinators, we installed a new soft-surface loop to offer a new way for residents of all ages and abilities to enjoy the park. Among our safety enhancements, our team was proud to increase Trolley Trail safety and visibility by applying 6 miles of white fog lines. And in our efforts to elevate the beauty and health of our environment, we redesigned the landscape at the North Clackamas Aquatic Park by adding more than 50 trees and 125 shrubs.
Parks for
Pollinators
Parks, gardens and greenspaces have become crucial to supporting the vitality of our region’s diverse pollinator species (bird, bees, butterflies, moths, and others).
This was a banner year in NCPRD’s commitment to our pollinators, as we proudly added three dedicated pollinator gardens at Stringfield Park, North Clackamas Park and Hawthorne Park. We strategically selected native plants for each site with the help of Pollinator Partnership, a national nonprofit dedicated to the protection of pollinators and their ecosystems.
To celebrate our new pollinator gardens, we held an event during National Pollinator Week to promote the importance of healthy pollinators with information booths, face painting and kids’ crafts. NCPRD also offers a variety of free helpful resources, including bloom calendars, pollinator color wheels and coloring sheets.
Volunteers
Once again, NCPRD’s efforts to support our community were bolstered by an engaged and selfless team of community volunteers. These generous neighbors do so much to enhance NCPRD’s mission of enriching community vitality and promoting healthy living. From delivering kindness and nutrition through the Meals on Wheels program, to helping enhance wildlife habitats and sports programs, our volunteers are an invaluable part of what makes this district such a vibrant place to live.
Concord School Property
After several years of planning and community engagement, the NCPRD-owned Concord Property in Oak Lodge is all set to become the future site of a community center, a 1.6-acre park and the new Oak Lodge Library. With three dynamic facilities on the same site, the Concord Property will provide endless opportunities for recreation, education, enrichment, wellness and social connection. We couldn’t be more excited to make the community’s vision for this site a reality, and to once again establish the Concord Property as the heart of the Oak Lodge community.
To prepare the property for its reopening, NCPRD is designing important upgrades to the school building to rejuvenate it for safe and accessible public use as a community center. In addition, we have finalized the design of the new park based on community input, with new park features including a nature-based playground, a multi-use playfield, picnic areas, walking paths, benches, and a plaza with an amphitheater and interactive splash pad. The final playground design takes nature-inspired and imaginative play elements, such as balance logs and boulder scrambles, and integrates accessible recreation features throughout, including ADA pathways, rubber tile surfacing, a two-level tower and bridge with ramps, roller slide, nest swings, inclusive spinners, and a variety of sensory play features. The project is expected to be completed by spring 2025.
Financial Information
NCPRD is a county service district with a dedicated permanent tax rate of $0.5382 per $1,000 of assessed value, Additional funding sources include user fees and charges, System Development Charges (SDCs), grants, and other contributions and donations. View detailed financial information and budget documents here.
Thank you for making our role in the community so rewarding.
It’s your participation, collaboration and energy that makes NCPRD a strong and essential part of our community. For more information on all that NCPRD has to offer, visit NCPRD.com.