Elizabeth Edwards, chief of staff at Clean Water Services and a longtime THPRD volunteer, will join the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) Board of Directors.
The five-member board selected Edwards on Sept. 8 to fill a vacant seat, according to a THPRD news release. She will serve the remainder of the term, which ends June 30, 2027.
Edwards brings a background in public policy and government relations in Oregon and Washington, D.C. She has worked across both the private and public sectors on policy areas including land use, parks, transportation, healthcare and public safety. She is also a member of the Oregon State Bar.
Edwards has volunteered on the district's Budget Committee since 2021, including serving as committee chair.
She also served on the THPRD Audit Committee and on the district's Levy Task Force, which advised the district on the need for and development of the operating levy voters approved in 2024.
THPRD Board President Tya Ping praised Edwards' preparation for the role. "Elizabeth brings a wealth of experience to the Board. She's done the homework with tremendous service on THPRD committees," Ping said in the release. "We know Elizabeth knows the issues, is exceptional at intergovernmental relations, and she is ready to hit the ground running for THPRD."
Edwards joins the board at a busy time for the district. Voters on May 19 approved Measure 34-350, a $280 million bond to fund repairs, maintenance and safety improvements at parks, trails and facilities over 20 years. About 56% of voters had approved the measure in partial results, The Oregonian reported.
THPRD is Oregon's largest special park district. It covers roughly 50 square miles in Beaverton and parts of unincorporated Washington County, providing parks, trails, swim centers and recreation programs to more than 270,000 residents.
The district's news release did not say what caused the vacancy or how many candidates the board considered.
