County Parks Appointment

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Carl Switzer Appointed County Parks Superintendent

Carl Switzer was recently named parks superintendent with Washington County's Facilities and Parks Division. In this role, Switzer will oversee the operation of Metzger Park north of Tigard, Scoggins Valley Park and Henry Hagg Lake in western Washington County and future park offerings such as the planned recreational vehicle (RV) park on the Washington County fairgrounds.

Switzer comes to Washington County with over a decade of management experience in park and recreation services. His most recent position was as program and facilities manager at North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District. Switzer also served for eight years as the parks and recreation manager for the City of Tualatin and as a recreation program supervisor with the City of Eugene.

Switzer earned a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree as well as his Bachelor of Science from Portland State University.

"Carl brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team," said Facilities and Parks Division Manager Martin Granum. "We are pleased to have Carl at this important time as the county looks to add amenities to our parks and better serve our growing population."

Washington County's parks program is staffed by seven full-time equivalent positions supported by an annual budget of $1.1 million, largely derived from user fees. The county organization operates three parks:

• Scoggins Valley Park –Close to one million visitors come to boat, fish, paddle, swim, hike and mountain bike throughout this 2,500-acre park that includes Henry Hagg Lake, a 53,640-acre-foot reserve built in 1975 to provide water for drinking, agriculture and industry. Washington County operates the park in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which owns the land.
• Metzger Park –This seven-acre park serves the urban unincorporated neighborhood of Metzger just north of Tigard. It features a variety of outdoor play equipment, the Patricia D. Whiting Hall and is conveniently located at the corner of Hall and Hemlock, just two minutes from Washington Square.
• Eagle Landing Park -- This half-acre parcel on the banks of the Tualatin River is located off of Rainbow Lane near Groner Elementary School. The park provides access to the Tualatin River for non-motorized water craft.

An additional RV park site on five acres of the county fairgrounds is being readied through a partnership with the City of Hillsboro. The planned urban RV park is envisioned as a regional destination for RV owners who want easy access to attractions such as the Washington County wine country and MAX line service to downtown Portland.

The Facilities and Parks Division is part of Washington County's Department of Support Services. Other divisions within the department include Emergency Management, Finance, Fleet, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Risk Management and Sustainability.

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