THPRD’s Visioning Process Recognized as the U.S.A. Public Involvement Project of the Year

September 13, 2021: THPRD is honored to announce that the district’s visioning process was selected for two national awards: the Public Involvement Project of the Year in the United States and as the winner of the Core Values Award for Respect for Diversity, Inclusion, and Culture. THPRD was honored in a virtual ceremony today by the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) USA Chapter. Projects are evaluated by a panel of professionals in public involvement from throughout the U.S. In writing about the THPRD visioning work judges said, “Your inclusive, whole-community approach sets a standard for 21st Century participation.”

Founded in 1990, IAP2 is an international federation of public involvement professionals working in 26 countries to advance best practices in public participation in government decision making. As the winning project from the United States, THPRD will now advance to international competition.

“On behalf of everyone at THPRD, we are honored and humbled to receive the Core Values Award as well as the Overall Project of the Year Award,” said THPRD Board President Tya Ping. “This means more than you can even imagine. Our visioning volunteers and staff literally hit it out of the park, reaching thousands of people, leading with intentionality to connect with underserved and BIPOC communities. We are so passionate about leading with our racial equity values and to be recognized by the IAP2 for this work feels incredible.”

Starting in the summer of 2019, 13 volunteers from the district’s Visioning Task Force, spent five months on intense community engagement to help identify public priorities and to set the stage for the district’s future planning efforts. Their efforts resulted in the following:

• Speaking with 10,500 people;
• More than 12,500 ideas collected;
• 117 engagement events / activities;
• Intentional youth engagement from preschool through high school age;
• Focus on engagement of underserved populations through translation, interpretation, focus groups with community-based organizations, and seven different language abilities represented by volunteers and staff, and more;
• Adoption of the Vision Action Plan by the THPRD Board of Directors in September 2020.

To learn more about the district’s visioning process, visit the website at http://www.thprd.org/district-information/visioning/ or watch a short video at https://youtu.be/e9pByaZGpLo.

About THPRD
Formed in 1955, THPRD is the largest special park district in Oregon, spanning 50 square miles and serving about 250,000 residents in the greater Beaverton area. The district provides year-round recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Offerings include thousands of widely diverse classes, 95 park sites with active recreational amenities, nearly 70 miles of trails, eight swim centers, six recreation centers, and about 1,500 acres of natural areas. For more information, visit www.thprd.org or call 503-645-6433.