The La Pine Park & Recreation District’s office in La Pine as seen October 10. The last three district board members resigned during an emergency meeting October 9. 

The last three members of the La Pine Park & Recreation District board resigned on Wednesday, leaving the struggling district in turmoil.

As required by state law, the Deschutes County Commission will fill the five vacancies on the board. On Monday, commissioners will determine next steps for a struggling district that is now without any staff.

Prior to resigning, the last three board members announced all staff would be laid off effective Oct. 20.

Board member Mark O’Brien resigned earlier this month, while Bryanne Berry resigned in September and Gary Gordon, Deren Ash and Matt Richmond were the last three to step down.

La Pine City Manager Geoff Wullschlager said he expected county commissioners to step in, because oversight for special taxing districts like the park district ends up with the county when there is no board in place. The park district is a separate entity from the city of La Pine, and the city has no oversight over the district.

Wullschlager said the district’s troubles will have a negative impact on La Pine-area residents, especially those with children in youth sports.

“What the district provides the community is extremely important, and it’s not just folks in the city limits of La Pine but people in the surrounding areas of unincorporated La Pine and Three Rivers,” he said. “I know it’s the intention of the board of county commissioners and the county in general to move this forward and get people in place.”

Financial problems

The park district has suffered through years of financial problems, including the failure of $1 million operating levy that was voted down in 2020.

The city has been supporting the park district over nine fiscal years, with contributions totaling $252,916, Wullschlager said. Those contributions have been for water in parks in city limits as well as for programming and events.

But many residents said dollars were not being spent well by the district.

“The city has also been in receipt of comment and input from local residents that there’s been ongoing concern with the board oversight of the district,” said Wullschlager. “I can’t quantify if those concerns were valid or not. I’m just telling you what people have shared with the city.”

Harassment over youth programs

Teri Myers, 75, is the park district’s grant writer and board clerk.

Myers said the district got back on its feet after COVID with volunteer labor, but said it remained underfunded. The district brings in 30 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value in taxes as well as the money from the city of La Pine.

Members of the community have harassed staff over youth sports on Facebook, Myers said.

“They begin to call out the referees, call out of the coaches,” said Myers. “Never the children, the children are absolutely fine, drawn together by team spirit. But the parents whose kid got called out on something, or a referee who didn’t do what they thought should happen … they’re actually name calling.”

The La Pine football program is in the middle of the season and will continue under the operations of the South Oregon Sports Association. All other programming has been canceled by the park district.

“We’re confused, and we are hurt,” said Myers, who has been with the district off and on since 2010. “I’ve always loved this district. I’ve always said we need things for these kids to do and we need things for adults to do, and they tried, but we don’t have any money.”

Myers contacted Deschutes County commissioners to inform them the park district board had resigned, and expects them to help assign people to the board. She said she’ll finish the grant she’s working on now and will keep looking for contract writing jobs afterwards. She also plans to rest.

‘A barrage of destructive hostility’

The three final board members — Gordon, Ash and Richmond — laid out their reasons for resigning Wednesday. Community members alleged that the district has made poor management decisions, which they refuted.

“What is unacceptable is the constant concentrated harassment of district employees and board members and volunteers by some community members who insist on my way or no way,” said Gordon on Wednesday.

At the meeting, board members said district staff are discouraged and exhausted.

“These actions are not merely asking questions or starting conversations to improve things. They are destructive actions and destruction has been the result,” Ash said Wednesday. “We lost the outstanding employees who are putting their blood, sweat and tears to keep these programs running and instead of solutions it’s been a barrage of destructive hostility.”

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