The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) will host an open house on Tuesday, April 16, to gather input on the district’s conversion of the existing elementary school playground into a community park. The event will be held in the elementary school gym on Cascade Avenue, 5–6:30 p.m.

SPRD has entered into a longterm contract with Sisters School District to lease the elementary school campus on East Cascade Avenue. The lease commences in July, coinciding with the move of the elementary school into its new facility located on the McKenzie Highway. SPRD will be utilizing the Cascade Avenue building for its offices and programs, and will be converting the existing playground space into a community park with multiple amenities. The move of SPRD’s operations into the community center is scheduled for February 2025.

SPRD has been in the process of planning for the proposed community center and park for the past year. The details of the building modifications are close to being finalized with construction to start late summer. A conceptual plan for the outdoor community park has been underway, with two prior community forums held last fall to take comments from citizens about park amenities they would like to have and hear what amenities were already prioritized for SPRD’s programming needs. The final list of amenities includes two age-specific playgrounds, multi-use playing fields, picnic gazebo, basketball court, eight pickleball courts, public restroom, and an ADA walking path around the perimeter of the park.

The public can weigh in at the open house on concept designs. Light refreshments will be provided.