Cook Park

Meet Marissa

Stories about my dad always make people laugh at parties. He’s a jokester and lives for a good laugh. Growing up, he was always there when we got home from school. He worked from 2 a.m. to noon in the lab at Pepsi.

One of his more elaborate pranks: He once hid in the bathroom dressed in bear suit as I got home from first grade. He borrowed the Mug Root Beer mascot costume and waited for me to search the whole house before jumping out to surprise me. I never understood why someone would do that!

He was also famous for coming up with free or nearly free activities to do with us. We frequented parks, went to watch the circus train arrive in town, and had a whole host of made-up games we’d play with friends.

When COVID-19 started, I was unprepared for the challenge of parenting in a pandemic. The first few weeks were rough. The next few months were rough. I was looking for any sense of connection that I could find.

And then one day, I saw a photo of a man in a mascot costume. There was a warmth that I felt as a kid growing up with a dad who’d dream up such crazy adventures for us.

That’s when I made a commitment to be more intentional about this time during the pandemic. Instead of just waiting for it to be over, I’m actively seeking ways to make it amazing for our kids.

This is how Cook Park became our refuge. We’ve always come for walks in the park or to visit the playground, but now we’ve got a deeper connection to the area. There’s “our beach” where the kids like to jump from rock to rock in the mud. The bouncy tree, which we can’t pass without the kids taking a ride. Kayak rides before bedtime, and even hide and seek. No crazy costumes through, Tigard doesn’t have a mascot… yet!

Marissa works in the Tigard Public Works Department as a Community Engagement Coordinator.