Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation

What Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation does

Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District (HRVPRD) is an Oregon special service district formed in 1988 that operates parks, trails, and aquatic recreation facilities for Hood River County residents (excluding Cascade Locks). The district runs the year-round Hood River Aquatic Center — featuring a competition pool, therapy pool, and wading pool under a tension fabric enclosure — alongside 8 community parks spanning 73 acres and 6 miles of trails (Barrett, Culbertson, Golden Eagle with pump track, Hazelview, Indian Creek Trail, Morrison Disc Golf, Odell Community, Parkdale, Rotary Skate, and Westside parks). Programming includes swim lessons, water aerobics, youth sports leagues, summer camps, lifeguard certification, and community education serving approximately 3,600 participants assumed from the school district in 2021.

HRVPRD's business model is funded through multiple public-revenue streams rather than commercial sales: a permanent property tax levy of $0.3498 per $1,000 of assessed value frozen under Oregon's Measure 50; System Development Charges on new residential and lodging development ($2,781–$7,693 per unit effective July 1, 2026); user fees at the Aquatic Center priced by in-district versus out-of-district residency (private swim lessons at $27/session in-district); and grant funding from entities including ODOT, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, USA Swimming Foundation, and Columbia Gorge Health Council. In May 2025, voters approved a capital bond of up to $40.36 million for aquatic facility replacement and a 5-year operational levy of approximately $1,064,052 annually. A forming 501(c)(3) foundation supplements public funding with private donations for facility enhancements.

Governed by a five-member publicly elected board, the district employs 6 full-time staff supplemented by 30 part-time and seasonal workers. The technology footprint centers on a parks and recreation management platform with an online registration and point-of-sale system launched in 2026 for program enrollment and pass purchases. Customer segments span youth and families (primary), adults and seniors, and the general community, with bilingual English/Spanish outreach via Radio Tierra's "Parques y Más" and community listening sessions.

Name

Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation

Legal name

Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District

Website

https://hoodriverparksandrec.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District is an Oregon special service district operating the Aquatic Center, 73 acres of parks, 6 miles of trails, and recreation programs serving the residents of Hood River County (excluding Cascade Locks).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Parks and Recreation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Parks (Outdoor/Indoor, Wave Pools & Slides) (THAJAEAB)

Keywords

• Public parks and recreation
• Aquatic center services
• Swim lessons and training
• Youth recreation programs
• Community trails and parks

Headquarters

HQ city

Hood River

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Levy: Permanent tax rate of $0.3498 per $1,000 of assessed value from Measure 50. Proposed operational levy of $0.33 per $1,000 raising approximately $1,064,052 annually for parks maintenance, pool operations, and recreation services.
2. Capital Bond: One-time long-term loan for capital construction. Proposed bond of up to $40,360,000 for aquatic facility replacement, repaid over up to 25 years at estimated $0.64 per $1,000 assessed value.
3. System Development Charges: Fees charged to new residential development (single-family homes, manufactured homes, duplexes, townhouses, ADUs, condominiums) to fund capital facilities for expanded capacity. Rates effective July 1, 2026: Single-Family $7,693, Multi-Family $5,423, Lodging $2,781, Farm Worker $3,149.
4. Pool Admission and Program Fees: User fees for pool admission, swim lessons, water aerobics, and recreation programs. In-district and out-of-district rates apply. Out-of-district rate approximately 50% higher than in-district rate.
5. Grants and Fundraising: Grant funding from Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon Transportation Commission (ODOT), USA Swimming Foundation, Columbia Gorge Health Council. Private donations through Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation Foundation (501(c)(3)).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District provides public aquatic, parks, trails, and recreation services to residents of Hood River County through the year-round Hood River Aquatic Center and a managed network of community parks. Core offerings include pool admission, swim lessons, water fitness, youth and adult sports leagues, summer camps, lifeguard training, and community education programs. Services are funded by property taxes, System Development Charges, user fees, grants, and private donations.

Product overview

Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District operates as a special service district providing a unified portfolio of recreational facilities and programs. The core offering centers on the Hood River Aquatic Center, an enclosed year-round pool facility housing competition, therapy, and wading pools. Surrounding this aquatic hub, the district manages a growing parks and trails network spanning 73 acres and 6 miles of trails across multiple community parks. Programming includes swim instruction for all ages, water fitness, youth and adult sports leagues, summer camps, and community education programs. The district also administers the Active Rx program providing free pool access for social service recipients. All services are coordinated through the district office with funding derived from property taxes, System Development Charges, and grant funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hood River Aquatic Center Year-round indoor pool facility featuring a competition pool, therapy pool, and wading pool under a tension fabric enclosure, offering swim lessons, water fitness, swim team, water polo, lifeguard training, open swim, and pool parties for Hood River County residents and visitors.
• Swim Lessons Program Learn-to-swim instruction for all ages and skill levels including summer group lessons, private lessons, adult learn-to-swim classes, and swim clinics, offered at the Aquatic Center with in-district and out-of-district pricing.
• Water Fitness Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,600 participants served through community education programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Columbia Land TrustminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration on Indian Creek Trail stewardship and restoration. Partner for volunteer events including planting native shrubs, mulch, and invasive species removal.
• Hood River Watershed GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration on Indian Creek Trail Earth Day volunteer events for planting native vegetation and improving water quality in Hood River watershed.
• Columbia Gorge MastersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Volunteer instructors for adult learn-to-swim program under direction of aquatic center staff. Masters swimming practice Monday-Friday 6:00-7:30am.
• Hood River County School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021In 2021, District assumed community education previously managed by school district (3,600 participants). Partnership provides priority access to school facilities (fields, tracks, courts) for recreation programs. Collaboration on ballfield maintenance at Wy'East Middle School.
• City of Hood RivercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-providers of parks and recreation in Hood River County. City operates its own parks (Children's Community Park, Waterfront Regional Park, etc.). HRVPRD coordinates with City on land swap discussions and shared recreation facilities.
• Hood River CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty operates Kingsley Park, Lost Lake Campground, Oak Grove Park, Panorama Point Community Park, and other parks. HRVPRD serves as primary provider of new parks county-wide.
• Port of Hood RiverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort operates Event Site, Marina Boat Basin, Marina Community Park, Nichols Boat Basin, The Hook, The Spit/Sandbar, and Wells Island.
• Hood River Valley Swim TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwim team operates at the Aquatic Center. Contact Head Coach Shelly Rawding at [email protected].
• Hood River Water PolominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater polo program operates at the Aquatic Center. Information available at hoodriverwaterpolo.com.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Boulder Parks & Recreation: Municipal parks and recreation department in Boulder, Colorado offering pools, recreation centers, parks, trails, and programming funded by a dedicated recreation tax. Comparable to HRVPRD in funding mechanism (dedicated voter-approved tax) and breadth of aquatic plus outdoor recreation services.
• Metro Parks Tacoma: Washington State park district operating Point Defiance Zoo, aquatics, sports complexes, and parks across Tacoma. Comparable as a tax-funded park district with a major aquatic facility, multi-site park network, and recreation programming portfolio similar in shape to HRVPRD though at greater scale.

Direct peers

• Eugene Recreation and Parks: Municipal parks and recreation department in Eugene, Oregon providing pools, parks, sports leagues, and recreation programming funded by property taxes and fees. Directly comparable to HRVPRD in core services, target audiences, and Pacific Northwest operating environment.
• Bend Park & Recreation District: Oregon special park district serving Bend and surrounding areas with parks, trails, and recreation facilities funded by property taxes and bonds. Closely comparable to HRVPRD in governance structure, Oregon tax-district funding model, and mix of parks plus aquatics/community programming.
• North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District: Oregon special park district serving the Milwaukie area with sports facilities, aquatics, parks, and recreation programming. Closely comparable to HRVPRD as an Oregon special service district with similar funding model and combined aquatics/parks/recreation service mix.
• Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District: Large Oregon special park district serving the Beaverton area with aquatics, recreation programs, parks, and trails funded by property taxes and levies. Directly comparable to HRVPRD as a tax-funded Oregon special service district providing similar aquatic and parks services to a defined geographic area.

Broad incumbents

• Oregon Parks and Recreation Department: State agency that manages Oregon state parks and provides grants to local park districts including HRVPRD. Comparable as a broader parks and recreation organization operating in the same Oregon regulatory environment and occasionally serving overlapping customer segments.
• Portland Parks & Recreation: Municipal parks bureau serving Portland, Oregon with extensive aquatics, community centers, sports leagues, and park network. Operates as a city department rather than a special district, but offers overlapping services and shares the same Oregon regulatory and funding context.

Others

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit working with public agencies to conserve land and create parks. Comparable as an ecosystem participant involved in parkland acquisition and funding partnerships of the kind HRVPRD uses for SDC/grant-financed land purchases like Parkdale Park and the Campbell property.
• National Recreation and Park Association: National nonprofit membership association supporting park and recreation agencies across the U.S. Provides advocacy, training, certification, and resources that HRVPRD relies on. Not a competitor but a key industry body and ecosystem enabler for park districts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hrvprd
• Instagraminstagram.com/hood_river_parks_and_rec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hood-river-valley-parks-recreation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation