by Bill Evans
THPRD is about to hit a bullseye with archery enthusiasts.
Through a partnership with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the park district has built a new range at the PCC Rock Creek campus for archers to hone their skills.
“ODFW provided the materials to build the range, and we provided the site,” explained Keith Watson, THPRD superintendent of Sports.
The range is now open daily from dawn to dusk. There is no cost to use the site, which includes 10 targets, set at lengths ranging from 10 to 60 yards.
Watson said the effort to bring an archery range to Portland’s west side was led by ODFW, with encouragement from an enthusiastic volunteer at a local archery club. While ODFW had the interest and grant money available to fund the new amenity, it had no suitable location.
Enter THRPD.
“We originally looked at a site west of the Rock Creek Powerline soccer fields,” Watson said. “When we began looking at alternatives, the practice field on the north end of the PCC campus became an option. They were thrilled with it.”
PCC approved the plan, and the school may eventually offer archery classes at the site.
The pilot program provides a new amenity to district residents, and could help grow THPRD’s existing archery programs at Cedar Hills Recreation Center and Garden Home Recreation Center.
“One of my charges when I came into sports was to look at emerging sports,” Watson said. “Hopefully this is the first of many of those sports that we can provide.”
THPRD crews will maintain the site after coordinating with volunteer work groups to get it up and running. ODFW provided a large rules sign to be posted at the entrance, and fencing was added so there is a single point of entry.
“We have rules posted at the entry and caution signs around the perimeter. We are confident that the site will be safe,” Watson said.
THPRD already operates a 32-acre sports complex and dog park at PCC Rock Creek through a partnership with the college. The facility, which opened in 2007, includes tennis courts as well as fields for baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse and practice football.
The post Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District: Connecting People, Parks and Nature: Hungry for archery? A new range at PCC Rock Creek hits the target appeared first on Beaverton Resource Guide.