Families in Beaverton's Vose neighborhood can walk to free storytimes and outdoor activities at La Raíz Park starting Tuesday, July.
The Beaverton City Library's bookmobile, Evie, begins weekly Tuesday visits to the 2-acre Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) park at 6595 SW Lombard Ave.
Each session starts at 10 a.m. and includes a read-aloud story and outdoor activities. The stops are free, open to all ages, and require no registration, according to the library's event calendar.
The pairing puts library services directly inside a park named to honor Beaverton's Latino and immigrant communities. La Raíz — pronounced "rah-ees" — means "the root" in Spanish. THPRD chose the name to honor the Spanish-speaking communities it serves, according to the district's project page for the park.
La Raíz Park opened with a grand opening on Thursday, July 18, 2024, after construction began in June 2023 on a site that had been a private residence for more than 80 years. The park features a water play area, a multipurpose sports court, two covered picnic shelters, paved and soft-surface paths, playground areas, and fields shaded by mature trees. THPRD's project page includes resources in Spanish and Arabic, reflecting the multilingual neighborhoods along the SW Lombard Ave corridor.
The bookmobile program is part of a broader summer push by Beaverton City Library to bring programming outside its walls. The library said on its summer events page that it will be "out in the community this summer with storytimes, crafts, and family activities in THPRD parks." Beyond La Raíz, the library has scheduled park visits at Camille Park (10299 SW Marjorie Ln), Beaverton City Park (12500 SW 4th St), and Wonderland Park (6400 SW King Blvd).
Evie also stops at Merlo Station Apartments (2032 SW Merlo Ct) on Thursdays at noon with the same stories and outdoor activities. All bookmobile stops are open to the public.
THPRD's Rec Mobile adds another layer of free programming at La Raíz Park on Tuesdays, bringing games, arts and crafts, and other family activities to the same location.
Upcoming Community Programs
- Hora de cuentos en español: Free Spanish-language family storytime for ages 0–6, Mondays at 10:15 a.m. at the main library (12375 SW 5th St).
- Summer Performances: Thursdays through July 30 at Murray Scholls branch (10:30 a.m.) and the main library (1:30 p.m.). Upcoming performers include Alex Zerbe (Zaniac juggler), Richard Ritchey (Reptile Man), and enTaiko (Japanese taiko drumming and marimba).
- THPRD Rec Mobile at La Raíz Park: Free games and crafts on Tuesdays at 6595 SW Lombard Ave.
