Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Message from the THPRD Board of Directors

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Our goal, every day, is to help support an active, healthy lifestyle, and to be a trusted place where the community gathers. Today, as we are all adjusting to what this pandemic means for how we temporarily navigate the world, we are united in prioritizing the health and safety of everyone in our community.

Please know our staff will still be maintaining your beautiful park and trail system. We hope you will continue to explore and enjoy our many parks and trails (outdoors) while respecting national guidance on social distancing. Staff are also exploring a number of creative ways to help people stay engaged, be active, avoid social isolation, and support one another in safe ways. We’re exploring posting videos of some of our instructors to help people exercise from home. Staff are developing tips, tools, and ideas for families to engage children at home and on our website and social media channels. Staff at the Elsie Stuhr Center are working on call lists to check in on some of our regular visitors. Our maintenance staff is utilizing this temporary closure period to deep clean each of our facilities.

We promise we will return to normal operations as quickly as we safely can. Please know, your health and safety are our number one concern, and we look forward to welcoming you back to our buildings, playgrounds, sports courts, and fields, as soon as we can. We hope you stay well – and please do enjoy the parks and trails during this challenging time. We will keep our website updated with the latest information www.thprd.org.

Sincerely,

Felicita, Tya, Wendy, Ashley & Heidi
THPRD Board of Directors

Update March 23: Outdoor Playgrounds, Sport Courts, Athletic Fields, Dog Parks and More are CLOSED

- In order to comply with today's announcement from the Governor, outdoor amenities at THPRD are closed effective immediately -

While parks and trails remain open, activities are limited to walking, hiking, biking, and running, in compliance with the Governor's Executive Order No. 20.12. The temporary advisory signs placed last week will be updated as quickly as possible with this new direction. Closures will include:

• All play structures and play equipment
• Basketball courts
• Tennis courts
• Multi-use sports courts
• Bocce courts
• Skate parks
• Athletic fields
• Dog parks
• Picnic shelters
• Outdoor fitness equipment
• Disc golf
• Bike track
• Permanent and portable restrooms (please note, that in order to comply with Executive Order 20-12 from the Governor, it is necessary for THPRD to close all restroom facilities to the public. At this time, we do not have the ability to ensure all restrooms meet the requirements specified in the executive order).
• Progress Lake fishing (not enough space for requires social distancing)

Community Gardens will remain open but limited to people with garden plots and gardeners must comply with social distancing rules. Bethany and Commonwealth Lakes are open. However it is vital that we all follow social distancing rules that are in effect. If we don't, it may be necessary to take additional steps to limit park and trail use.

Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and in compliance with the Governor's order:

• Allowed activities are walking, hiking, biking, and running in compliance with statewide social distancing rules.
  
• Wash your hands before and after your visit.
• Keep 6 feet of distance between your immediate household group and other park/trail visitors.
• Limit your group to interacting with your immediate household.
• If you are sick, or experiencing any symptoms: runny nose, cough, sneeze, fever, STAY HOME.
• Avoid touching surfaces.

Park Patrol staff will be enforcing these new rules, but compliance and cooperation from the public is essential as our staff's ability to respond to every violation will be very limited. Updated rules signs will be posted this week and in some cases caution tape or other tools may be used to block off sites.

In addition, normal park rules still apply under District Compiled Policies 7.02 General Use of District Property.

THPRD Indoor Public Facilities are Closed through April 28. All events, classes, camps, programs are cancelled.

All patrons will receive refunds on classes, camps, programs, during the closure. Passes can be extended to cover missed days.

The safety of THPRD guests, volunteers, staff and community is a top priority and we are taking appropriate action to limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). THPRD is following guidance from Oregon Governor Kate Brown, the Oregon Health Authority, Washington County Public Health, and the CDC to limit public gatherings. We are not aware of a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis coming into contact with a THPRD facility, however we believe this is an essential step to take to ensure the safety of our patrons and staff.

Facilities closed to the public include

• Centers: Babette Horenstein Tennis Center, Cedar Hills Recreation Center, Conestoga Recreation & Aquatic Center, Elsie Stuhr Center, Garden Home Recreation Center, Tualatin Hills Nature Center, and Tualatin Hills Athletic Center
• Pools: Aloha Swim Center, Beaverton Swim Center, Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center, Harman Swim Center, and Sunset Swim Center.
• Other: Administration Office at HMT Complex, Cooper Mountain Nature House, Fanno Creek Service Center, Fanno Farmhouse, and Jenkins Estate

The facilities will still have administrative staff in the buildings, but they will not open to the public. Meals on Wheels will still operate food delivery services out of the Stuhr Center, but there will be no meals served at the facility. Please call 503-953-8111 for more information.

Facility Deep Cleanings: During the closure period, maintenance staff will be giving each facility a deep cleaning.

Refunds: Patrons who registered for programs that required a fee between March 14 and April 28 will receive a credit, per district policy.

Employee Information

THPRD has enacted temporary workplace policies to allow, when feasible, employees to telecommute. The district is taking additional steps to ensure the safety of our staff at this time and expanding access to leave accounts. All non-essential travel has been cancelled. Staff are encouraged to meet online, by phone, or if in-person meetings are necessary to practice social distancing recommendations. The district will return to normal scheduling as soon as it is safe to do so.

THPRD has established a new Employee Information Webpage. It can be found on our public web site under District Information, Employee Updates, so all staff can access employee updates.

For more information, please review the attachments from the Oregon Health Authority.

• Novel Coronavirus Fact Sheet - English
• Novel Coronavirus Fact Sheet - Spanish
• Coronavirus Prevention - Arabic
• Coronavirus Prevention - Russian
• Coronavirus Prevention - Simplified Chinese
• Coronavirus Prevention - Traditional Chinese
• Coronavirus Prevention - Somali
• Coronavirus Prevention - Vietnamese

Cancelled Events or Activities

The following events/meetings/activities have been cancelled or postponed due to an abundance of caution regarding the COVID-19 virus. Many of these are beyond the district's closure period, as THPRD will be following federal and state guidelines on limiting group sizes and following social distancing practices.