Margaret Maffai

August 17, 2017

First Ever RAPRD Aviation Day - Free Community Event!

Margaret Maffai

August 17, 2017

Planes, helicopters, and drones!

Redmond Area Park and Recreation District will host its first ever Aviation Day

– a free community event –

at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center on

Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 11:00am to 4:00pm

Aviation Day will include exciting demonstrations and activities for all ages and fun prize giveaways!

Whether your child has already shown an interest in planes, helicopters, or drones, or they are just discovering technology through toys and games on computers and smartphones, Science/Tech/Engineering/Math themes will play a big role in their future education and career options. RAPRD hopes this fair-like atmosphere and hands-on fun will spark interest and curiosity about STEM and aviation careers and hobbies.

Central Oregon, with its high, flat landscape, clear of tall buildings and other hazards, is particularly well-suited to recreational and professional aviation activities. Redmond is therefore a fertile ground for aviation careers, as well as flight-inspired fun.

The booming local aviation industry – and COCC’s Aviation Department - presents a unique opportunity to interest Redmond kids in STEM fields early on, so they'll be ready to connect with local training, licensing, and educational opportunities at our community college, and perhaps eventually find a home in the local economy so that Central Oregon can hang onto our young STEM talents.

Our goal is to foster a fair-like atmosphere where Redmond kids and families can connect with local aviation hobbyists and professionals to ask questions and experience some of the options available in Central Oregon. This is the first year we hosting Aviation Day, but we are hoping it can become an annual event.

Special thanks to the Central Oregon STEM Hub team for helping to organize this unique event!

Confirmed Participants

Central Oregon Community College - Volunteers from drone operator classes will show off their drones and moves, and demonstrate basic operation and safety in a "drone camp" for participants.

Drone camp will include a safety cage with an obstacle course inside. Participants will fly drones through the course with help from COCC aviation department volunteers. Family members and kids waiting for a turn at the drone controls can watch from bleachers and outside the cage, COCC will set up computer stations with a simulator so that kids can fly simulated model aircraft flights and play games.

Once kids get the hang of the drone controls and safety rules, COCC will organize races through the obstacle course, time and space permitting.

Redmond’s Aircraft Fire and Rescue Team – Firefighters will show off one of the fire trucks they use to respond to aircraft emergencies.

AirLink – Crew members will bring their helicopter on site so that kids can get a look inside and ask the crew about the exciting and important work they do.

Warm Springs FAA UAS Test Range – member of the Pan Pacific Test Range Complex under the auspices of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. One of only a handful of national test ranges, Warm Springs will show off their EZ Rig drone.

Sisters and Bend area EAA Chapters of the Experimental Aircraft Association. These local non-profit groups provide "discovery flights" for both "Young Eagles" and Eagles (those over 18), and other projects to get them interested in aviation.

Sisters High School Flight Science, Outlaw Aviation, and Sisters Eagle Airport - Students from Sisters High School will show off what they've learned in their Flight Science class, where they are studying for their pilot's licenses, and the Sisters team will bring a flight simulator so that kids can experience what it's like to be in the cockpit.

Field of Dreams RC Club - members will display their radio control planes in all shapes and sizes and be on hand to answer kids' questions about building and flying RC planes in Redmond.

In addition to the booths, displays, and drone camp, other activities will include:

parachute play

flight simulator

balsa wood model building and painting

building and flying FPG-9 gliders donated by the Academy of Model Aeronautics

twirly copter folding and coloring

paper airplane contests.

Margaret Maffai

July 31, 2017

Nearly 6,000 of You Celebrated the 4th of July with RAPRD!

Margaret Maffai

July 31, 2017

Redmond Area Park and Recreation District hosted our 6th annual Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration this month. Nearly 5,800 participants flooded the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center to ride ponies, the zoo train, and a horse-drawn carriage, to race to devour pies and watermelon, to try the climbing wall and the zip line, and to enjoy the bounce houses and bubble soccer.

We wanted to send a special thank-you to our presenting sponsors, Central Oregon Truck Company and Papé Kenworth, and to all of our activity sponsors and volunteers who helped make this year's Celebration the best yet!

Break up your workday with a scroll through some photos of this Independence Day fun!

Go ahead, hum the JAWS theme.  You know you want to. — Go ahead, hum the JAWS theme. You know you want to.

The hats!  The shoes!  The thrilled expressions! — The hats! The shoes! The thrilled expressions!

Water games took on a special priority as temps climbed into the 90s.

The sheer drop from the Daredevil Island bounce house proved too terrifying for many, this brave jumper made the leap.

Even the littlest archers were right on target!

Girls test their strength on the climbing wall

This midfielder tries out an unconventional move to gain a bubble soccer advantage.

Pony hop caravan heads toward the Cascades!

Margaret Maffai

July 14, 2017

How the Nation’s Fastest Growing Sport Found a Home in Redmond

Margaret Maffai

July 14, 2017

When they moved to Redmond from Humbolt County, California in 2002, Scott and Laurie Purcell had never even heard of lacrosse. For that matter, neither had Redmond. But over the next decade, their family’s own challenges and overcoming obstacles would mirror and intersect with the efforts to establish and grow lacrosse in Redmond. Although many families have powered the growth of the sport, and poured in hours of volunteer time to support their kids’ teams, the Purcells’ experience tells the story of lacrosse in town, and RAPRD’s efforts to help secure its future.

The Purcells moved to Redmond when their boys, Troy and Austin, were in second and third grade, respectively. Scott’s job with FedEx had offered the family a transfer to Central Oregon, and, after visiting the area, they chose to settle in Redmond, which they found was the safe, affordable place to raise their family they were looking for. Laurie recalls they chose Redmond for many reasons. “For the affordability, for the size of the community, the school ratings…” She also notes that the size of the town allows a busy mom or dad to make pick ups and drop offs of multiple kids at multiple sports without taking all day. “We’ve been really happy with Redmond and have never regretted that decision,” she says.

The family moved in August, and so missed the cutoff for fall soccer through RAPRD. Laurie remembers, “We moved up so late that Troy was on a wait list, and they told me the only way to be sure he could be on a team would be if I agreed to coach. So from the minute we moved up here, I coached.” Although she had coached in Humboldt County, Laurie was reticent, as she has not played soccer all the way through school. Luckily, her assistant coach that year would eventually become the Central Oregon Christian School soccer coach. “We wound up having a great relationship with him and we had a wonderful time, and it was great.” After that first season, the family’s relationship with RAPRD only expanded. “Our kids were really into sports,” Laurie says, “soccer and basketball.” Scott coached flag football while the boys played and Laurie coached cheerleading. When they were older, both boys eventually reffed for youth sports. “We’ve had a long history with park and rec,” Laurie says.

Laurie, who has her accounting degree and now works for the food bank at NeighborImpact, takes youth sports very seriously, as type of map, or instruction manual to teach kids how to behave in adulthood. “I don’t care what grade you are, you can learn to be respectful, on time, you can learn to be reliable because people depend on you.” Laurie says, “Everyone gets equal play time, I don’t care about your skill,” because every kid needs a chance to learn these values.

Seven years ago, when Troy was in 9th grade, his friend Sam came to him. They had been good friends since second grade. Sam played lacrosse for Redmond High School and they needed another player. Troy already played jazz band, regular band, soccer, basketball. He had been planning to take spring season off. But Sam asked him to play so they could field a whole team. “We need 10 on the field,” he told him, “You can just stand there and hold the stick.” Troy couldn’t say no to Sam.

“Scott and I honestly didn’t know what Lacrosse was,” Laurie recalls, “We heard the name, we saw a stick, but we had no idea.” Troy, in turn, got Austin interested in the game. “Troy got hooked. Austin got hooked. And I wound up with 2 boys who loved lacrosse. We blame it on Sam,” Laurie says, laughing.

Once the sport began to grow in Redmond, the Purcells realized there would be serious hurdles. “It’s a club sport,” Laurie explains, “it’s self funded, it is never stable because no one is being paid. So lacrosse was always having a hard time.” The next year, Ridgeview opened, but lacrosse was still a club sport so Ridgeview didn’t have a team and the Purcell boys played for Redmond lacrosse. “It was a struggling program, “Laurie describes. “They had the most kids they’d ever had but they didn’t have enough uniforms. It was being kept alive, thank gosh. Bless their hearts, they did what they could.”

The high school split was hard on all the sports and lacrosse was no exception. When Troy was a sophomore and Austin a junior, Austin asked their parents if they could start a lacrosse club at Ridgeview. “Thinking they’d never do it, I told him to go do the work and talk to the principal, talk to the athletic director. Austin came back having done everything.” The principal of Ridgeview, Mr. Loving, agreed, and said he was one hundred percent behind them, but that the school couldn’t financially support a club sport.

The kids played out the rest of the season in Redmond and then the Purcells teamed up with Sharon and Mark Langliers, whose son Chase played with Troy and Sam. “We had no money, no gear, and four players,” Laurie laughs. “You have to dedicate your life when you’re starting something,” she says. “Money was the first challenge. We knew that it’s an expensive sport. The gear is expensive. If parents did not know what it was and their kid has never played it, they weren’t going to pay for $500 worth of gear. So we knew we were going to need to supply everything.”

They wanted the best for their players but it wasn’t about optics or branding. Investing in equipment and uniforms was key to building team spirit. “They had to look like a team,” Laurie said. “They needed jerseys with shirts and shorts that matched their socks. So they could come out on the field with pride.” To build their team and supply the equipment so that kids who didn’t even know what lacrosse was would still come out and play, the Purcells and Langliers embarked on a massive fundraising campaign. “We did everything,” Laurie remembers. “We went up and cut firewood and sold cords of wood. We sold root beer floats. Car washes every weekend.” And it paid off. The Ravens lacrosse club was able to field a team of 19 players and outfit them with home and away jerseys, helmets, gloves, arm pads, and chest pads, and supply the goals and equipment needed to line the fields. By their second year, the team had moved up to the varsity level and Austin, who had graduated, became the assistant coach.

Once both boys had graduated (Troy and Austin are 20 and 21 now, respectively), Scott and Laurie stepped away from the day to day operations of the Ridgeview team. “Scott and I stepped back last year to focus on the youth. We knew from the minute we started the Ridgeview team that the future of high school lacrosse was the youth.” RAPRD had been supportive of the program from the beginning but hadn’t been able to take on a new team sport at the time. But the Purcells were determined to make it work. “We knew we had to get it into park and rec because it is always there, staff gets paid, so it is sustainable,” Laurie says, “We are focusing on growing the park and rec program, getting it available, getting kids involved.” RAPRD handled the registration and gear distribution for the youth teams this year, and will continue to use its infrastructure to lend stability to the program. RAPRD is “doing wonders for lacrosse,” Laurie says.

From RAPRD’s perspective, giving kids more options for sports to play is a big plus. “For kids that aren’t into the big three – baseball, soccer, and basketball – it allows those kids another avenue to be active and competitive,” explains Mike Elam, RAPRD Recreation Manager. “We currently work with Bend Park and Recreation to enter Redmond teams in their league. We provide the gear for three teams,” Elam says, but adds that the goal is to be able to afford enough gear to increase the number of teams. “I hope that we could build the program enough and people excited enough here in Redmond that we could eventually support our own league,” Elam describes. This would allow the local schools to build team spirit among Redmond youth and interleague competition could help everyone sharpen their skills. “When you are able to play other towns, it increases the diversity,” Elam notes.

The future success of the sport in Redmond depends, as it always has, on fundraising and attracting new players. As with the high school team, Ravens Youth Lacrosse kids fundraise to build their program and Laurie won a grant from US Lacrosse for gear. “That really helped us over the challenges, and hurdles,” she says, “so a big thank-you to US Lacrosse.” The local community has also really shown up to help support the program. “The local business owners of Redmond have been wonderful,” Laurie says, “and if not for their donations Ravens Youth Lacrosse would not be we are.”

US Lacrosse strongly supports the development of the sport, particularly in areas where lacrosse is new and organizations are still building programs. “We are a non-profit, member based organization that fuels the growth of lacrosse by providing a variety of programs and services to our members and to those that are starting new lacrosse organizations,” describes Pacific Northwest Regional Manager Lyn Porterfield. Although the sport is less well-known in Oregon, which creates funding and promotional challenges for those working to draw new players to the sport and outfit new teams, this can also be beneficial, Porterfield explains: “Out West of course the sport is much newer, and being “new” is often what makes the sport intriguing for kids.” Also, because parents and kids are learning the sport at the same time, she says, it gives kids, rather than parents, a chance to be the experts, “and kids like that!” she notes.

US Lacrosse introduced the Lacrosse Athlete Development Model (LADM) last year, which places priority on fun, safety, and lifelong love of the sport. Their six core values include making sure that the sport stays fun and kid-centered, promoting smaller field and team sizes to get kids more playing time, encouraging involvement of lacrosse players in many sports to develop as athletes and stay active all year, and providing resources for training of coaches and referees. “Any body type or size can play on both the boys and girls side,” Porterfield notes, emphasizing that the sport can draw in kids who might not be attracted to more traditional sports.

This focus on fun, wellness, and development integrates well with RAPRD’s aims to put forward fun recreation programs that support an active lifestyle. US Lacrosse, in turn, sees the potential for park and recreation organizations to play an important role in growing the sport. They “already have the infrastructure to organize teams (field access, coaches, registration, etc),” Porterfield notes, and “they’re often the local ‘experts’ in delivering a safe and fun sports experience to the kids in that community.” US Lacrosse provides resources to club teams, parks and recreation organizations, and PE teachers to help educate coaches, teach the rules of the game, and “provide a great experience for the kids,” Porterfield says.

The Purcells and RAPRD hope to benefit from some of these resources and support from US Lacrosse to build lacrosse in Redmond. Looking to next year, Laurie explains, “We want to double the numbers of youth teams,” noting that the large team size this year isn’t ideal for getting kids playing time. Another goal for next year is to get kids started even younger, by adding a 1st and 2nd grade co-ed team. “The youth program is where it’s at,” Laurie says. “That is what is going to keep the high school program running.” Asked what she sees for the future of lacrosse in Redmond, Laurie acknowledges that growing the program will take commitment, dedication, and sacrifice. “Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the US. We really want lacrosse when you come back in 10 years to be booming.”

Although Laurie and Scott rush to spread the credit around, it is clear that the Purcells have impacted the evolution of lacrosse in Redmond. What is more interesting is how lacrosse has impacted the evolution of the Purcells. Laurie explains the unique path their family took and how she believes it changed them all for the better. “The first three years I don’t think we took vacation,” she recalls. “Every weekend was a fundraiser. All the wood we cut together. All the fields they had to paint. Austin and Troy are best friends because of it. They have each others’ backs. They were teammates, they had a goal, they were on the field together. They are solid,” she says. “How many families when their kids are juniors, seniors, and the first year in college are spending almost every weekend together for a common goal?” she asks.

She acknowledges sometimes the path forward was rocky. “There were a lot of heartaches. There were a lot of ups. There were a lot of downs. But it brought our family closer.” During a time when a lot of kids would be pushing away from their parents and trying to show their independence, the Purcell boys were spending all their time working with their parents to grow lacrosse. “That can be the hardest time for a family. Our kids respected us and we respected them and we had to depend on all of us and none of us could let each other down,” Laurie says. “The last two years before my kids went to college we were always together as a family. I look back at that as my fondest memory. We did it as a family.”

Margaret Maffai

June 19, 2017

RAPRD Scholarships: All Aboard!

Margaret Maffai

June 19, 2017

When you think of Redmond Area Park and Recreation District, you might not immediately think of trains. Or, maybe you do! After all, we train Redmond kids how to play soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. Our wellness instructors teach patrons strength and endurance training on land and in the water. We train our staff and volunteers to put on top quality recreational programs! But freight trains? No connection, right? Nope, wrong, we are happy to say! We are excited to announce that we have received a $3,000 grant from BNSF Railway to support our scholarship program!

As you have probably seen as you waited at a railroad crossing, from the block letters emblazoned on the sides of the freight cars that run through the East side of town, those trains are operated by BNSF, our local railway company. BNSF Railway is an enormous freight transportation company, operating approximately 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and three Canadian provinces. Its history stretches back to 1849, a decade before Oregon achieved statehood, and their trains carry everything from grain to coal to petroleum, building materials, and food. Unlike Nike or the Trailblazers’ Foundation, however, you might not automatically associate a railroad with youth sports, before- and after-school programs, or summer camp. But BNSF saw something special in our community, and in RAPRD, and has stepped up to support us.

RAPRD’s scholarships help make our programs accessible to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. RAPRD Executive Director Katie Hammer explains, “Recreation programs enhance lives by offering an opportunity to learn a new skill, be physically active and to socialize. RAPRD offers scholarships because we feel that it is important for every member of our community to have the chance to benefit from recreation programs.” We believe that even in tough financial times – especially in tough financial times – participating in recreation, education, and enrichment activities supports wellness and brings individuals and families together. Our programs help individuals find wellness, and also bring our community closer by providing opportunities to find strength, fitness, and make social connections together and our scholarships help keep our programs affordable and within reach of everyone.

BNSF likewise considers the quality of life in the communities their trains pass through. Courtney Wallace, Regional Director, Public Affairs explains BNSF’s commitment to even the smallest of communities within their tens of thousands of miles of track. BNSF employees live, work, and volunteer throughout the communities the company serves, she explains, and the company developed the BSNF Foundation as its main vehicle for charitable giving in 1996. Since that time, Wallace describes, “the Foundation's giving has expanded to help more and more communities.”

Despite the size of the company and the vast territory they serve, BNSF staff views their impact on a local level. As Wallace notes, BNSF's shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day.” Hammer also observes the connection between small communities and large corporations which, after all, are made up of people: employees with families who play sports and picnic in local parks. “Some businesses support communities where they operate because they are invested in the livability of that community,” Hammer says. “By donating to an organization such as RAPRD, they are supporting activities that their employees and families and customers directly participate in.”

RAPRD distributes tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships each year, to ensure that everyone can afford to participate in our programs. Last year, we provided $64,000 in scholarships to low income kids and families and 58% of those funds supported kids in our Adventure Quest before- and after-school program, and Camp Adventure Quest in the summer. The program focuses on fostering social connections and an active lifestyle, while encouraging creative skills in arts and crafts. Brandy Princehorn, Assistant Recreation Coordinator knows how vital scholarships are to all her Adventure Quest kids, who develop close ties with one another, and a feeling of belonging. “It gives kids who may be less fortunate the opportunity to be a part of a rewarding program that they may not have been able to participate in without the scholarship program.” Camp Adventure Quest is gearing up for a great summer at the Redmond Early Learning Center thisyear, and will have access to more nutrition support and provide longer hours than in previous years. “Kids have the chance to be a part of something really great,” Princehorn says, “They meet friends, stay active, and most of all have fun building lasting friendships with positive mentors.”

For her part, Wallace observes that organizations that foster a connection with the outdoors hold a place of special importance in Oregon. “One of the most enduring values of the Pacific Northwest is its incredible beauty,” she says, “and Central Oregon, in particular, provides some of the best recreational activities.” RAPRD youth sports programs, our Adventure Quest before- and after-school program, and our summer Camp Adventure Quest help connect kids and families to Redmond’s many parks and green spaces. Time spent being active outside and in nature facilitates wellness and lays the foundation for a healthy lifestyle throughout all stages of life. Wallace confirms that outdoor recreation programs should be affordable for everyone to enjoy. “We fully support the Redmond Area Park and Recreation District’s Scholarships program,” she says, “there should be no barriers to allow access for everyone.”

RAPRD is honored to have been chosen for grant funding from the BNSF Foundation. Camp Adventure Quest is off on the right foot for a great summer thanks to the support of BNSF and other businesses like it that find value in investing in our community, our patrons, and our programs.

You too can climb aboard the RAPRD scholarship train! Scholarship donations help subsidize RAPRD programs like youth sports, Adventure Quest, and swimming lessons so that everyone can participate, regardless of ability to pay. To donate, click here or press the donate button!

Margaret Maffai

May 15, 2017

Missed the first Dog Day at Tetherow? Doggone it, it's not too late!

Margaret Maffai

May 15, 2017

Participants used stuffed dogs to practice first aid and CPR skills at Tetherow Homestead. Photo by Dennis Fehling

Participants gathered last Saturday morning in sunny Tetherow Crossing Park to learn the basics of dog CPR and First Aid. Instructor Dennis Fehling of Friends for Life Dog Training in Redmond also walked the group through the ins and outs of scene management – how to safeguard yourself and the injured animal when you are the first responder to an animal-involved accident.

Dennis Fehling of Friends for Life Dog Training explains how to approach an accident scene.

Topics covered included how to MacGyver a home-made muzzle from materials you might have on hand, such as shoelaces or a belt to ensure you can safely respond to an injured dog you don’t know without getting big, five different points where you can check a dog’s pulse, how to administer CPR to different-sized dogs, and how to respond to various choking scenarios. Not only did the participants agree the class left them better able to respond in an emergency, they also felt more confident that they wouldn’t be helpless if their dog – or another injured dog – needed their help.

Participants practice clearing airway obstructions and administering rescue breaths.

Dennis agreed to volunteer his time to teach the course because he believes in giving back to the community, and as a way of spreading this valuable knowledge of how to help animals in an emergency situation. Assisting in the class was Sarah McCoy, a member of the Friends for Life Dog Training team and instructor of next Saturday’s course on Calming Relational Massage for dog owners to perform on their dogs.

Dennis Fehling, far right, and Sarah McCoy, second from right, give instructions.

Sarah is certified through the Animal Behavior College in Pet Grooming and Dog Behavior and Training, as well as Pet Massage, Cat Behavior and Management, and Pet Nutrition and Diet. She enjoys sharing what she has learned – and is continually learning – with owners who would like to grow in their knowledge of their pets. With expertise in such diverse fields, Sarah wears many hats. “At Paws In Hand, we offer positive reinforcement-based training and will in the future also provide mobile pet grooming,” she says of her business.

Sarah has also agreed to donate her time to this course to support the historic preservation of the Tetherow Homestead. Built in 1878, the homestead is the oldest house in Deschutes County and was the site of one of the first three crossings of the Deschutes River, the first use of the Deschutes for irrigation, and also the site of the first brewery in the county. “I live close to the Tetherow Homestead,” Sarah says, “and I’ve always enjoyed walking along the river near it. I look forward to seeing the house restored and the property maintained. It’s a beautiful, tranquil place to visit.”

Tranquil Tetherow Crossing Park, and the historic homestead, viewed from the Deschutes River

Did you miss the CPR and First Aid class but you’d still like to join us for dog massage this weekend? Don’t worry! We are pro-rating the last 3 courses in this unique dog care series so it’s not too late! Call us at 541-548-7275 to sign up or drop by Cascade Swim Center or the Activity Center on Canal behind Bi-Mart.

Kids 7 & up are welcome and encouraged to attend – we hope to get Pam from Friends for Life out to do some awesome demonstrations with her nose work student dogs who can find objects by scent even out in Tetherow Crossing Park!

The schedule for the remaining classes is as follows:

May 20th – 10 – 11:30. Learn massage therapy tips for dogs from Sarah McCoy of Friends for Life Dog Training.

June 10th – Dr. Bernadette Hartman, DVM will present a class on how to use essential oils for your dog. 10 – 11.

For the above classes, instructors will bring their own dogs to demonstrate the techniques. Please do not bring your dog unless specifically requested.

June 24th – grooming tips from Shannon Dayton, a professional local dog groomer. Learn how to clip your dog’s nails, clean their ears, the basics of grooming different types of coats, some tips on products and tools, etc. 10 – 11. As long as your dogs are DOG FRIENDLY and won’t be distracting in the group class, you can bring your dog to get tips on specific grooming issues.

The Deschutes River, viewed from one of the oldest crossing points in the county.

If you'd like to support our efforts to restore the Tetherow Homestead, you can donate at any of our facilities, by phone (541-548-7275) or online:

(Note: if you are reading this in email, some carriers like Gmail disable the PayPal link. You can click here to donate through our blog in your browser.)

Margaret Maffai

May 3, 2017

Dog Days at Tetherow

Margaret Maffai

May 3, 2017

Central Oregonians are serious about our dogs. Especially in the summer, our dogs come with us on camping trips, hikes, and even rafting and paddle boarding! Also, as a time when more dogs are outside, dogs can be at greater risk of accident and injury in the summer. That means the start of summer is a great time to learn more about how to take care of your dog – and even other dogs you might find outside injured. Healthy dogs can also reap the benefits of proper grooming, massage therapy, and essential oils. If you want to give your dogs a great summer, and attend to their health and well-being in new ways, come join a diverse cast of local dog experts in hourly classes in their fields of expertise.

This series of classes will take place in Tetherow Crossing Park (5810 NW Tetherow Rd. in Redmond), and the instructors have generously volunteered their time so that all registration fees will go to support the restoration of the AJ Tetherow homestead, the oldest house in Deschutes County (1878). Before and after class, participants can enjoy beautiful Tetherow Crossing Park, right on the Deschutes River, and learn more about the history of the homestead and its role as a critical point of transportation in the settlement of Central and Eastern Oregon. For more about the homestead and our efforts to preserve the historic structure, you can check out our blog post on Tetherow Crossing.

One affordable registration fee (going to a good cause) gets you four seminars with local dog experts starting this month:

May 13th – Learn Pet CPR and First Aid in an Emergency – tips for your own dogs and how to respond to a dog you might find injured on the road. Taught by Dennis Fehling of Friends for Life Dog Training. 10-11:30. Stay for a nose work demonstration!

May 20th – 10 – 11:30. Learn massage therapy tips for dogs from Sarah McCoy of Friends for Life Dog Training.

June 10th – Dr. Bernadette Hartman, DVM will present a class on how to use essential oils for your dog. 10 – 11.

For the above classes, instructors will bring their own dogs to demonstrate the techniques. Please do not bring your dog unless specifically requested.

Kids 7 & up are welcome to attend with an adult, but to provide a safe environment, we ask that only kids participating in the class under adult supervision attend.

$40 per adult.

1 child 7 & up can participate free with adult participant. Additional kids who want to learn the techniques and attend with an adult, $20.

Pre-registration is required.

Meet some of the generous experts donating their time to help RAPRD preserve this piece of Oregon heritage and spread awareness of these important dog care techniques:

Dennis Fehling describes Friends for Life Dog Training as “a professional dog training business with a mission to help our clients and their dogs stay together through the use of positive reinforcement-based dog training.” Friends for Life offers a variety of fun classes for puppies and adult dogs. “We teach a puppy class for socialization,” Dennis explains, “and we teach older dogs manners so they can learn to live with their humans.”

Dennis will be teaching Pet CPR and First Aid in an Emergency. “We live in a very dog-based community,” he observes. “At any time you could face an emergency with your dog either at home or out in our beautiful part of the state. Our goal of the class is to give our students a basic understanding of how to properly do CPR, and help an animal that is choking or bleeding through the use of proven specific techniques that anyone can do and should learn.” Dennis agreed to give up a summer Saturday to volunteer for RAPRD, he says, because “We love giving back to our community in any way we can. This was something we could support, as well as get our message out about positive based dog training.”

Dr. Bernadette Hartman has a veterinary practice in Bend and is also a nationally recognized speaker on the Animal Human Connection. “My practice is focused on holistic veterinary care and intuitive energy healing for owners and their animals,” she explains, “I look at the whole picture including mind, body, spirit, energy and emotions. Working with behavioral and emotional issues within the Animal Human Connection while helping people become empowered and more connected to their animals is a huge passion and large part of my practice.”

Dr. Hartman will be teaching the class Behavior, Emotions, and Essential Oils for the Animal Human Connection. “I feel this is important to help owners understand how and why their animals are displaying behaviors or emotions,” she describes, “how animals are reading energy and how and why essential oils are so important in supporting the Animal Human Connection.” Dr. Hartman believes that this understanding is important to help owners “create a deeper connection and understanding of their animals and the roles they are playing in their lives.” She explains that the Animal Human Connection contains great healing potential, with the power to uplift and change lives. “This is what I help animals and owners find - deep authentic relationships and connection to ones truth. The healing truly benefits both owners and their beloved animals.”

Dr. Hartman has agreed to donate her time to give back to the community in this way not only because of her passion for helping animals and their owners, but also because she believes the historic site has a special cultural significance for the county. “The importance of preserving something that means so much to so many, and can offer a place of continued connection, is very powerful. This will benefit future generations and all of us here in the present. It's a win-win for all!”

Come out to Tetherow Park this summer to learn these important dog care skills and support the restoration of an important piece of Deschutes County heritage! If you can’t make it to the dog care seminar this year but you’d like to support the historic preservation of the Tetherow Homestead, you can make a donation at the pool or the RAPRD Activity Center, or online.

(Note: if you are reading this in email, some carriers like Gmail disable the PayPal link. You can click here to donate through our blog in your browser.)

Margaret Maffai

April 21, 2017

Donations Flow to Support Redmond Homeless in April Showers Campaign

Margaret Maffai

April 21, 2017

Perhaps you’ve seen this sign on flyers at Cascade Swim Center or the RAPRD Activity Center. We at RAPRD take our role in the Redmond community seriously. Our programs are made possible by public support and we, in turn, make it possible for the public to participate in fitness and recreation offerings without the membership fees required by private clubs and gyms. Although our primary purpose is not social services, our role as a public entity dedicated to community wellness uniquely positions us to serve otherwise underserved populations.

We endeavor to never lose track of that sense of purpose. For example, our Adventure Quest before and after school program, and our Camp Adventure Quest summer program for kids provides healthy snacks to keep kids full of energy and playing hard all day. We offer scholarships so that community members have the opportunity to experience wellness and recreation programs regardless of ability to pay. We offer our Hero Pass to honor Redmond veterans and encourage them to participate in programs with their families.

Longer than all these programs, however, going back decades, we have offered use of our shower facilities at a low cost. We understand that, for many in Redmond, recreational and enrichment programming simply isn’t on the table. We want to do our part to make wellness a possibility even for those who must dedicate all their money, all their time, and all their energy just to getting by.

Around 1 in 5 of the homeless or housing insecure in Central Oregon is considered “unsheltered,” meaning camping, squatting, or living out of a car. Some families may “double up” with neighbors or friends, and some may live in RVs without utilities. Central Oregon’s homeless include veterans and the elderly, and more than 40% of Central Oregon’s homeless population are children under 18.

These numbers only scratch the surface. According to Chris Clouart, Managing Director at Bethlehem Inn homeless shelter in Bend, “the annual homeless count is a snapshot. It has a limited reach. If you are accessing the shelters, you are in a position to be counted, but if you are trying to keep your campsite from being found and taken away from you, you are probably off the radar.” Clouart estimates that the annual homeless count doesn’t capture a sizeable percentage of Central Oregon’s homeless. “The count is probably inaccurate by about a third,” he says.

Homelessness increases in the summer as an influx of hard-working people move to the area to fill the seasonal jobs that tourism and construction bring to the area. With housing prices high and climbing, and a very tight rental market, these people might have regular jobs but no place to live. They’re filling a needed gap in the workforce, trying to do jobs that keep Central Oregon’s economy humming in the summers, but they don’t have access to something as basic as showers or running water. They don’t fit the stereotypical image most people have of a homeless person, and in fact, don’t see themselves that way. “They’re living out of their car, so they aren’t homeless in their own eyes,” Clouart explains. They’re a hard working man or woman who says “well, I’m not homeless, I just can’t find housing.’” This mindset means that people who are working, but unsheltered may not seek help from local resources.

For people in this situation, “The most critical issues are the issues of hygiene,” Clouart explains, “Running water just seems like such a natural thing to most people. You don’t realize what a necessary thing it is until you don’t have it.”

At RAPRD, we recognize water as a force for wellness. We see it in our aqua fitness classes and in water therapy for patrons with injuries or disabilities. Water can be restorative. A shower is more than just shampoo. A shower is a moment of peace, of independence, of purification. “To be able to say ‘I feel clean,’” Clouart describes, “what an emotional boost that can be to someone.” Access to shower facilities improves mental and physical well-being, can restore confidence, and helps job applicants maintain a professional appearance.

For such a simple thing that most of us take for granted, the impact is significant. Clouart says, “If you talk to someone who has gone several weeks without a shower and you ask them how they feel, they’ll say ‘I feel grubby, I feel itchy, I feel scratchy, I don’t feel good.’ And then they take the shower and they can say ‘I feel good.’ So you’re not just talking about physical hygiene, but mental hygiene as well.”

In partnership with the Redmond Library, RAPRD offers a limited number of free showers to housing insecure individuals every month. The temperature extremes we experience in Central Oregon mean our winters are bitterly cold and our summers oppressively hot; both potentially dangerous for those without sufficient shelter. In anticipation of another hot summer, our April Showers fundraising campaign will support this program to continue to make free showers available to those who need them.

The cost of a shower is only $1.50.

Make a donation today to give a free shower to someone in need.

(Note: if you are reading this in email, some carriers like Gmail disable the PayPal link. You can click here to donate through our blog in your browser.)

Special thanks to those who have already donated: Alicia, Donna, Lourdes, Susan, Leslie, Peggy, Melanie, Carolyn, and a number of anonymous donors. If you donated and we didn't catch your name, feel free to contact us so we can thank you here!

Margaret Maffai

April 3, 2017

Camp Adventure Quest Set to Begin a New Adventure in Redmond Early Learning Center

Margaret Maffai

April 3, 2017

Throughout the school year, RAPRD offers its Adventure Quest program, before- and after-school enrichment program for children Grades K-5 at five elementary schools, where staff and volunteers lead organized activities, and arts and crafts projects. The program operates Monday through Friday and during Winter and Spring breaks so that parents can drop their kids off and be assured they will have the attention and support they need. Staff offers a homework reading period every day. “It really helps the parents,” says Brandy Princehorn, Assistant Recreation Coordinator, “We know they have had a really long day, some kids are with us until 6:30.” Princehorn is a mother of three herself, and can sympathize. “You have to go home and make dinner and the do the bedtime routine. So we offer 20-30 minutes of homework time to give parents that extra help.” Parents recognize the added value of such engaged staff. Program participation has exploded, from 6 students per day in 2007 to nearly 80 students per day in 2016. The program has spread out over five school sites in Redmond and Terrebonne.

Every summer, all those kids, from around the Redmond area, come together for Camp Adventure Quest. Formerly Summer in the Park, for years, the program was based solely outside, in Redmond’s many community parks. However, while active time outside is a major draw for the format, the program runs from 6:30am to 6:00pm, and some parents were hesitant to have their kids outside for the whole day. The campers were at the mercy of the Central Oregon weather, and competed for park space with Music in the Canyon, and teenagers hanging out on summer break, who weren’t the best role models.

That all changed last year when Vern Patrick granted Camp Adventure Quest the use of two modular classrooms for the whole summer. They finally had a base of operations (with air conditioning!) where the campers could cool off and securely leave their stuff, and do arts and crafts without worrying about the wind and rain sweeping their projects away. The leaders set up a rotation between the two classrooms and the outside space. In line with their themes for each week, they had crafts and games in each of the rooms, and field games outside. On bad weather days, they had a protected space to move all the kids inside.

However, on those days and times with all 60 campers inside, it became obvious just how small two modular classrooms can feel, when filled with active kids. Princehorn recalls, “That small space changed everything for the better. It let us offer more because we had three spaces to use instead of one [outside park space, as in previous years]. But we couldn’t grow in there. The goal is to keep growing.”

Princehorn was able to draw on the program’s good reputation in area schools when she approached the Redmond Early Learning Center to ask for space for this summer. “The schools love to use their space to reach out to the community and help families, so they benefit from our program as well.” At RELC, the program will have access to the school’s cafeteria, gym, and the large stage/backstage space, which they will use as a classroom and activity room. RELC is centrally located to a number of area parks, so Camp Adventure Quest not only has access to the school’s outdoor fields and playground, but will continue its tradition of hiking with the kids to different parks each day. The Centennial Splash Park, and Cascade Swim Center, will become a regular part of their week again. “These kids benefit from being outside,” Princehorn says, “We want them to enjoy all of our parks. That’s what we are, we’re parks and rec. We want to get our kids out to enjoy all that we have, not just the one space.”

Camp Adventure Quest still meets many of the needs that Adventure Quest addresses during the school year. Each week has a theme like “Stars and Stripes,” “Nature Gone Wild,” or “Jurassic Park,” that guides the crafts, games, and learning activities. A librarian visits regularly to read to the kids and leave a rotating bin of library books and, on excursions to the library, and leaders help participants get library cards, and check out, and return books. In the new cafeteria space at RELC, the school’s Nutrition Services will provide breakfast and lunch to school district nutrition standards each day, which Camp Adventure Quest supplements with morning and afternoon snacks. “Kids will choose sugar over anything else and that doesn’t give them the fuel they need for the rest of the day so I’ve been trying to incorporate a lot more fruits and high protein snacks,” Princehorn notes. “We run their energy out,” she says. “They eat fairly often because they are playing all the time.”

Like Adventure Quest, Camp Adventure Quest features crafts and stations on coordinated themes each week. For Nature Gone Wild week, for example, participants hike to the local parks, picking up natural materials to make their crafts (bird feeders out of pinecones, porcupine characters out of pine cones and pine needles, rock pets to paint later, etc.). Incorporated into the fun of collecting and creating is learning about the weather and the seasons, why some trees change and some don’t. “We’re helping them learn to observe what’s around them,” Princehorn says. Stations include fun projects like making characters out of paper bags or toilet paper rolls, but also trivia, board games, and activities like cooking (no-bake cookies, English muffin pizzas, etc.) to let kids be creative while learning life skills.

“We are different than a day care,” Princehorn observes, “because our job is not just to watch them. We are in it with them. We do all the activities with them, and we use ourselves as a reward.” She recalls when the kids got to draw beards and mustaches on the staff, or pie them in the face at the end of the summer. “We are more like an older brother or sister, or an aunt. Them seeing us do stuff, rooting for us, competing against us in field games, just seeing us be silly; there is something about being outside and being active with them that builds those relationships. We build that trust with them so they want to come back each year.”

That trust and familiarity pays big dividends. “We have had some kids who have been with us for a long time,” Princehorn says, “so seeing them grow and change from a shy kid that cries and clings to mom, and now mom is trying to give them a kiss and they are so excited to get here and jump right into an activity. We see kids who used to test the waters who are now helpful to younger kids, who can show them the ropes and become mentors themselves.”

Princehorn talks wistfully about “a space that is our own, where we can have big things like a foosball table and aren’t restricted to what will fit in a storeroom, or what we can clear away on a rolling cart,” such as a comprehensive new RAPRD facility might one day bring. For now, the new space this summer will dramatically benefit the program and allow plenty of room to grow. She recalls, “The space last year made it feel like ‘Wow, there are a lot of kids in here.’ Whereas RELC is a big school for more kids. Hopefully parents can see how much opportunity there is there and get excited about it.”

We provide financial assistance so that Redmond kids who qualify can receive a scholarship to attend Camp Adventure Quest. A $30 donation can send two kids to Camp Adventure Quest for a day. A $60 donation could send one child for a week. If you support this program, consider a small donation to help more kids experience the fun of Redmond parks in the summer.

Margaret Maffai

March 24, 2017

What Should Redmond's Parks Look Like in 10 Years? Make Your Voice Heard!

Margaret Maffai

March 24, 2017

Redmond Area Park and Recreation District works closely with the City of Redmond to offer fun, social programs outdoors, in the many great park locations around Redmond. The City currently maintains 20 parks, 3.8 miles of trails, and one dog park. It is the responsibility of the City Parks Division to ensure that the system of parks, trails, and amenities Redmond offers meets the needs and expectations of our residents. It is their job to make sure that when you and your family or friends go to a Redmond park, you can easily find out what kinds of equipment and facilities will be there before you go, and that you’ll have what you need for a great day out.

To do that difficult job, every 10 years, the Parks Division updates its citywide Parks Master Plan. “The Master Plan gives us the bigger picture,” says Annie McVay, Parks Division Manager. “It helps us identify things getting outdated, big recreation trends, ways the community’s changing; the broader view of what parks need.” The last time the plan was updated was in 2008, so the city is preparing for the next update. The Master Plan update captures the accomplishments of the past 10 years, and identifies goals for parks development in the coming 10 years. It will guide the Parks Division in the next decade as to which projects to build, how funding should be prioritized, and what should be undertaken first.

Everything gets evaluated: which parks are being used and how people are using them, which trails are used and where new trails are needed to meet the desires of new and growing sports and recreation niche communities.

Now, the parks update project team wants to hear from you. What events and activities do you use Redmond city parks for? Or, if you don’t currently use the parks, what new facilities or amenities would draw you to try them out? “Redmond is very different than Prineville and Sisters and Bend, says McVay. We want to reach out to the Redmond community to hear about their unique needs; what they like about our parks, parts of the park system they think could be improved. We want to know what success in the next five years for Redmond parks means to you.” She recalls, “Pickleball blindsided the nation a couple years ago, so if there are big recreation trends that are up and coming that aren’t aware of, let us know!”

The project team takes their job seriously and has planned a number of ways to try to get the community involved in the parks update process. They want to make it as easy as possible to give them your feedback, so they have come up with a number of ways you can tell them what you think. There is citywide survey sent out every year. “Over the past couple years,” McVay reports, “we have had three large scale community surveys. One was mailed to every resident.” An interactive website called “My Sidewalk” issues weekly posts on different themes. Last week’s asked residents to respond to the open-ended question, “What do you want your children to remember about playing in Redmond parks?” In some communities, the “My Sidewalk” program has been a great tool for eliciting public feedback, but so far, Redmond has seen low participation.

Although the Master Plan project team stays up to date on the latest research and studies regarding community development and park planning, the participation of residents is key. We can get a good idea of trends, but our planning should begin with the thoughts and the needs of the residents,” McVay explains. “If we planned in a vacuum we’d miss a lot of things that are really important to people.”

McVay also discussed some of the challenges in uncovering Redmond’s park needs so far. “The difficulty with the master plan is it is so big. It is more abstract, not site-specific, so it is hard to get your head around. A community park like Quince or Bowlby, everyone uses it and everyone knows what they want and don’t want.” She gives some examples: “If you have kids, your biggest need might be playground equipment. If you have school aged kids, your needs might be focused on sports fields. But aggregating that to the big picture, and farther into the future, is more challenging”

There’s more art than science to eliciting the information the city needs from residents about their park needs. “If you just list a bunch of activities and facilities, everyone loves all of them, but that doesn’t get us to priorities. So we use open-ended questions and people will respond with what matters to them most. Our recent survey about Quince Park did a great job of capturing impressions.” With regard to common themes among residents’ responses to open-ended surveys about the Master Plan, McVay observes, “One thing that always comes up as a really high priority is trails and connectivity.”

In an effort to offer a variety of forums for engagement, there is also a series of public meetings and other outreach to the community to invite you to contribute ideas, outline existing challenges, and get information about what could be possible for Redmond parks in the next 5-10 years. The City is hosting an open house to seek public input about the future of Redmond’s parks, trails, natural lands, and outdoor recreation opportunities. The open house will be on Wednesday, April 5th, at 5:30 pm at Redmond City Hall (formerly Evergreen school), in Civic Room #206.

There will be an opportunity at the open house for constituents of various demographics to have their voices heard. The needs of hikers may not always match the needs of seniors, which may not always align with the needs of families with young children. The Parks Division wants to respond to and balance these competing needs. “There are different ways that different cultures use our parks,” McVay observes, “And a lot of our parks here are geared toward families with children, so we hear from senior citizens that we could meet their needs more.” To gather the impressions of these user groups, the open house will feature thematic stations, like “Trails,” “Ball fields” etc. The Parks Division will also be able to present more information on what they’ve developed so far, which will hopefully make it easier for residents to comment on the Master Plan. “It can be harder in the abstract,” McVay says, “but once they see something in writing, people have a better sense of how to direct their comments.”

This will be only one of many platforms the city will provide to learn about the process and offer your guidance to the project team, but it is an important first step that will shape the Master Plan update by creating a framework and jumping off point for future engagement. Don’t miss this chance to make your voice heard and make sure your city parks continue to meet your needs going forward as Redmond grows and evolves.

Margaret Maffai

February 24, 2017

The RAPRD Hero Pass: Making it Easier for Veterans to Stay Healthy and Active

Margaret Maffai

February 24, 2017

Thanks to a generous private donation, Redmond Area Park and Recreation District has developed a way to honor and welcome our community’s veterans. Aquatic Director Jessica Rowan took it on herself to develop the Hero Pass program, after being approached by a donor interested in encouraging Redmond area veterans to participate in recreation and life enrichment activities to improve physical and mental wellbeing. “Redmond has a large veteran population,” Rowan explains, “nearly 3000. But our research showed that veterans remain an underserved part of our community.” Rowan undertook six months of research, including meetings with local veteran support organizations, to develop an incentive program that would best meet the needs of the largest number of area vets.

“There are many programs for veterans that are needs-based, that require the veteran qualify through a disability or economic hardship,” Rowan observes. “This is not the direction we wanted to go with our Hero Pass program. It has been our goal to provide this incentive without these qualifiers. If a community member has served and been honorably discharged, then they qualify for a Hero Pass.”

Rowan’s research included a number of recent studies examining the causes of difficulty transitioning from military to civilian life. Whereas the military is structured by rules and order and hierarchy, civilian life can feel chaotic and unstable by comparison. The shift to a civilian environment can bring a sense of boredom and isolation. “The good news,” Rowan says, “is that community engagement and social contact has been shown to greatly reduce these negative feelings, improving overall health and wellness for veterans.” Team sports can provide a sense of teamwork, rules, and achievement. Aquatics programs and exercise at the Activity Center offer improved health and strength and a chance to interact with others with similar interests.

Rowan’s research also showed that it can be challenging to find a replacement in civilian life for the feeling of belonging that servicemen and women find in the military. Cascade Swim Center and the Activity Center are community environments where friends and neighbors can meet and catch up while participating in recreation and exercise programs. Being a part of a sports team or becoming a regular at lap swim or the gym can bring a sense of belonging and familiarity that puts civilian life on firmer ground.

“The goal of the Hero Pass is to be able to say thank you to our community members who have served,” Rowan describes, “and to foster participation in community based recreation and enrichment.” Honorably discharged Redmond area veterans who live within the District boundaries are eligible to receive a Hero Pass. Recipients can use this card to receive a 20% discount toward RAPRD registrations and passes for their participation in recreation, fitness or enrichment programming. Since the purpose of the program is to encourage sustained engagement in recreation and enrichment programs, passes are discounted, but not daily drop-in fees. As Rowan explains, “As the goal of the program is to engage the veterans, themselves, the Hero Pass can only be applied to programs and passes that they, themselves, will participate in.” To this end, veterans can receive a 20% discount for their families when they buy a pass for the whole family to enjoy an activity together, such as a lap and recreation swim pass for the pool.

Photo by Army National Guard Staff Sgt Emily Suhr

“Providing life enrichment programs to our community members is our mission, and this is particularly true for our area veterans,” Rowan says. “We are blessed to have a significant portion of our community that has made the choice to serve, and we feel that it is an obligation to honor their sacrifices.”

The Hero Pass project is funded through charitable donations, with special recognition to the tremendous generosity of the Pollock family, in honor of Elmer and Geneva Pollock. If you would like to make a tax deductible contribution to the Hero Pass project, call or visit the RAPRD Activity Center or Cascade Swim Center, or donate online here:

If you are an honorably discharged veteran who lives in the Redmond area, you can bring proof of District residence and your DD-214 to the pool or the Activity Center to receive your Hero Pass.

Margaret Maffai

February 13, 2017

AJ Tetherow Home: Saving one of Redmond's Historic Treasures

Margaret Maffai

February 13, 2017

We are pleased and proud of our role in saving one of Redmond - and Oregon's - significant historic sites. This is going to be a huge project, and tremendously challenging, but we are looking forward to bringing history into the present and we are up for the journey!

The Tetherow house was built in 1878 or 1879 and is believed to be the oldest standing house in Deschutes County. The original owner was Andrew Jackson (A.J.) Tetherow, son of Solomon Tetherow, the leader of the Lost Meek wagon train of 1845, who discovered the Blue Bucket Mine. A.J. lived on the property with his wife and four children, and one of his children lived on the property until 1928.

Tetherow House East Facade.  Photo courtesy of Deschutes County Historical Society — Tetherow House East Facade. Photo courtesy of Deschutes County Historical Society

The property was used as a home, inn, campsite, store, farm, ranch, orchard, garden, dairy, blacksmith, and brewery. The property also served as a store and stopping point (or way station) from 1879 to 1898. The store was supplied with goods and foods (sugar, flour, bacon). In 1898, J.A. Isham leased the property from the Tetherows and moved his family onto the property. Isham established an inn and kept the hay station and stage stop until around. 1910. In 1903, one of his daughters became the first bride to be married in the newly established town of Madras.

The site served as one of only three Deschutes River crossings during the settlement days of Central Oregon. Originally, the crossing was operated by cable ferry and later, a bridge was built. The crossing was a part of the Willamette Valley and Cascade Mountain Military Road, the chief corridor of passage from Springfield to Prineville and the Ochoco Mountains.

Historically, its significance to Central Oregon is as a critical point of transportation. Reports indicate that as many as 20 wagons and 100,000 head of cattle per day crossed the river at Tetherow Crossing. According to Phillip Brogan, an Oregon author and historian, the first diversion of water from the Deschutes River for irrigation was on the Tetherow Ranch.

Current status

Tetherow Property was dedicated as a historical site in 1976, and the house was used as a caretaker’s residence until approximately 1999. Additions over the years have altered the original structure into the larger structure that stands today. Deschutes County deeded the property to Redmond Area Park and Recreation in 2004 to develop into a public park. RAPRD had a consultant review the property in 2004, who determined that the core of the original house still exists.

Tetherow House - North Facade circa 2002

We have always hoped to preserve the original 12’ x 25’ original homestead and rehabilitate the structure for safe public use. During the recession, the community suffered a prolonged period of double-digit unemployment and development was paused. We are prepared to resume rehabilitation of the historic structure and transformation of the property into a public park, complete with accessible trails and interpretive signage, and we have hired a full-time Development Director to assist in that endeavor.

Our ultimate goal is to preserve the home and restore its historic character. This would require demolition and removal of the various additions to the house. We then hope to construct an adjacent modern structure to make the original homestead more functional for community use. This indoor space may be used as a classroom for community programs, meeting space, family gatherings, etc.

View of Tetherow House from the Deschutes

We have concept drawings for the park improvements. Our next step will be to get an architectural plan for the house and plans to transform the surrounding property into a public park with trails and educational/interpretive signage.

We are only at the beginning of this challenging project but we believe in the enormous potential contribution of the Tetherow property to Redmond's history and to our community as a natural public space. We are excited to shepherd it through to completion. Visit our Take Action page to see how you can get involved or donate to support the Tetherow project here: