Answers from Ivan

Answers from OTNA Board Requests to Parks & Rec

Ivan’s responses in red from the email in addendum 

From Ivan Anderholm, CPRE (He, Him)

Director | Parks and Recreation Department

"At our OTNA Board meeting last week we discussed and agreed that I would write to you about:

1.   The OUTSTANDING job the Parks Maintenance team does in keeping GRP and the pathway from GRP to Old River Road in excellent condition.  We agreed we want to officially recognize and thank them. We hope you will pass on our thanks to them.  We'd appreciate knowing their names and who does what.  Thank you this has been passed along.

2.   Our excitement about the new riverfront pathway and the new Aquatics Center.  Thank you! 

3.  Discussion about the tennis courts.  Consensus among our Board was that courts need to be resurfaced.  Board Members shared that the courts were regularly resurfaced in the past and that this is important to do to ensure the courts continue to be used. Please give us an update on when this can be scheduled. We prioritize small capital maintenance based on 1. Safety, 2. Functionality and 3. Aesthetics.  The prioritization takes place annually and projects are funded as resources are available.   Currently, it looks like the tennis courts will be resurfaced during the 2026-2027 fiscal year along with our courts at Westlake Park.

4.  Discussion was held about lake access for LO residents at the 2 swim parks.  The Board agreed that we should ask the City to allow LO residents to have access to both swim parks. We would also like to request that the chain link fence at the Swim Park at Ridgeway be removed so that residents can enjoy the view and lake access, as they can from the other Swim Park. https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/parksrec/lake-oswego-swim-park. We are responsible for operation of the small swim park on Ridgeway, we do not expect to change the operation of the swim park.  The lake access at the swim park is restricted to within the dock, the fencing provides a delineation for our guards to ensure the safety of the swimmers. 

5.  Discussion was held about Parks’ plan for work happening now for parking on Furnace street and if people would continue to park diagonally. This would be our suggestion. A decision by our Board was made that we should ask the City Parks & Rec and Police and Traffic to please share a proactive plan for how traffic flow, safety and overflow into the neighborhood will be handled during and after construction of the pathway. I am not aware of any parking related work being done on Furnace Street, we collaborated with Public Works to improve the stormwater system near George Rogers Park.  The parking will remain the same on Furnace in the Park.  We anticipate the parking demand for the Willamette River Greenway to be at Foothills/Roehr Parks due to the availability of parking in the shared lot between the parks at the end of Oswego Pointe Drive.  The project construct will take place next spring with the anticipated trail opening summer 2026.

6.  Discussion was held about traffic, vehicle access control and parking for the Arts Festival and the Car & Boat Show.  We agreed we will ask the City for proactive information on/about the plan for traffic flow, parking permits for residents who need to park in front of their homes and for community policing. In years past, there have been people posted to manage traffic flow and that worked very well. My understanding is that the Lakewood Center is planning on the same vehicle circulation and parking plan as in past years.

7.  Discussion was held about who we are to call for different situations:  Parks Rangers or non-emergency community police?  We agreed we would ask the City for clarification on this. Parks Rangers and Parks Department should be contacted for issues, concerns happening in George Rogers Park or the Willamette River Greenway.  Situations (parking infractions, unsafe driving, bad behavior) in the neighborhood should be directed to non-emergency.  Questions regarding the streets (paving, signage, parking regulations) should be directed to Public Works/Engineering.

8.  Discussion was held about why non-residents of LO can purchase an annual pass to the new bond-funded LORAC (Lake Oswego Recreation & Aquatics Center).  Costs for residents for annual membership is published in the City Activity Guide as Annual adult resident cost as $420 and annual non resident cost of $630. Annual passes are also being sold for youth, seniors and households.  Consensus of the OTNA Board was to ask why non-residents can buy annual passes?  Our preference is that residents have first access since this was funded by a bond.  As with all of our recreation programs we offer priority registration to our residents and charge non-residents an additional fee, these fees are reviewed and adopted annually in our Master Fees and Charges, https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/Master%20Fees%20and%20Charges%202025%20Final.pdf  We do not limit registration until programs are at capacity."