PENDLETON — While Eastern Oregon still is in the dregs of winter, Pendleton Parks & Recreation is highlighting sunnier times for the Pendleton Aquatic Center.
PENDLETON â With more events returning to Oregon and Umatilla County, Pendleton is moving fast to play host, including for Oregon Swimmingâs 2021 Championships from to July 22-25 for swimmers 11 years and older.
Oregon Swimming, a local swimming committee of USA Swimming, put on the championships, which normally take place at Mount Hood Community College in Gresham. But, Mount Hood made the decision during COVID-19 to not open for any events this summer, forcing Oregon Swimming to find a new venue for their championship event.
âInitially we didnât even know if we would be able to hold a championship meet,â said Debbie Laderoute, the executive director of Oregon Swimming.
PENDLETON â Pendletonâs cut of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act hasnât dropped into its account yet, but the cityâs various tourism interests were already ready with a presentation.
Dubbed âPendleton Comes Alive,â the plan called for the city to use $250,000 from Pendletonâs federal stimulus payment to boost the local tourism industry. Led by Pendleton Economic Development Director Steve Chrisman, including representatives from the Pendleton Convention Center, the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce and the Pendleton Round-Up Association, the group thinks it can help the cityâs tourism recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by creating new initiatives like horse and buggy rides and sending people dressed in Western garb downtown to interact with tourists.