About Parks & Recreation

The Department operates one of the most active parks and recreation programs in the Portland metropolitan area. It manages over 600 acres of park and open space property and over 45 acres of recreation facilities including the Adult Community Center, Indoor Tennis Center, the Golf Course and Practice Range, and the Charlie S. Brown Water Sports Center on the Willamette River. The Department hosts an average of 1800 recreation programs and 85 community events each year. 

T
he City of Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation joined the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies nationwide by earning accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). This distinguished accomplishment was awarded during the 2023 NRPA Annual Conference in October of this year!

 

CAPRA accreditation is the only national accreditation for park and recreation agencies and is a measure of an agency’s overall quality of operation, management, and service to the community. This distinction indicates that an agency has met rigorous standards for managing and administrating lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety, and services. The process for accreditation involves a formal application, self-assessments, a site visit by a team of trained volunteers that results in a written report, and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation.

We are thrilled that we are the 6th agency in Oregon and one of the 200 agencies throughout the United States.

 

Director’s Message
An overview of the Parks Department including mission and other pertinent information.

Parks Rules The rules and regulations governing parks properties and the expectations of behaviors within the Parks system.
 
LOPR Organizational Structure  Organizational structure and components are the major subdivisions of  LOPR such as divisions of services within Parks & Recreation. This information is included the LOPR Org Chart and Staff Positions Listing including major responsibilities of the job. 
 
Code of Conduct for Program Participants and Volunteers
Participation in City sports and recreation activities is guided by code of conduct expectations. Volunteers represent the City of Lake Oswego and are also expected to abide by our code of conduct. These documents provide an outline of behavioral expectations.
 
Customer Excellence Survey Results for Recreation Activities
We care about what our customers say!  Surveys are sent to activity participants two times monthly and the results are tallied and tabulated to provide information to help us improve our services. 
 

LOPR Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Information about the Department's policies, procedures and services provided to welcome and include all people in all that we do. 

Annual Facts- LOPR oversees planning, development, management and maintenance of the parks, natural areas and open spaces in Lake Oswego, as well as manages and operates five recreation facilities that provide services and activities for public enjoyment. For an online booklet version, click here!

Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board (Parks Board) meets monthly and addresses all matters concerning the Department

Arts Council of Lake Oswego

The Arts Council of Lake Oswego works to ensure the arts are an integral part of life in our community, now and into the future. ACLO facilitates the placement and preservation of public art in Lake Oswego, provides access to art exhibits for residents and visitors, and advances lifelong learning about the arts through educational programs and docent tours.

The Arts Council works on behalf of the City of Lake Oswego to bring the public art you see all around Lake Oswego. Gallery Without Walls, Lake Oswego’s Acclaimed Public Art Program is an outdoor sculpture exhibit of over eighty permanent and loaned works of art. It’s open all year and is free for everyone to enjoy. The downtown rotating exhibition features thirty sculptures on-loan from artists for a period of two years, all of which are available for purchase. All other artwork in the Gallery Without Walls belongs to the City of Lake Oswego’s permanent art collection.

Pick up a walking tour brochure at City Hall, Chamber of Commerce, Adult Community Center, or the Arts Council. Another option is to go to our website to download a copy, or scan the QR code on the website to locate the nearest sculptures.

Find more artwork from the City’s collection in public buildings around town, including City Hall, the Library, the Adult Community Center, and the Maintenance Center.

The Arts Council’s ARTspace is unique to Lake Oswego and is the only non-profit visual arts gallery within the city. ARTspace hosts a number of temporary exhibitions each year focusing on a range of media and artists from local to regional and international. Join us for our exhibition receptions where you can meet the artist, learn more about the work on view, and connect with fellow art enthusiasts. Each exhibition hosts a variety of programs and events tailored to children, youth, and adults. Visit our website artscouncillo.org and calendar for programs and events, and to sign up!

System Development Charges

System Development Charges (SDCs) are one-time fees charged to new development to help pay a portion of the costs associated with building capital facilities to meet needs created by growth. SDCs are authorized for five types of capital facilities including transportation, water, sewer, storm water, and parks and recreation. The City of Lake Oswego (City) adopted the current parks and recreation SDCs methodology in 1998.