Monument will honor lifeguard vigilance at popular Sandy River park, High Rocks

High Rocks

A swimmer is pictured at Gladstone's popular High Rocks Park in this Oregonian/OregonLive file photo.

UPDATED JUNE 24: This story has been updated to include a photo of the planned design and new information on the total fundraising amount.

UPDATED JUNE 21: This story has been updated to include additional statistics from American Medical Response.

For the last 20 years, swimmers heading to cool off in the Sandy River each summer have braved the cold temperatures and swift currents at a popular Troutdale park, knowing that trained lifeguards are there keeping watch over them.

This year, Troutdale residents are honoring the lifeguards’ legacy with a monument to the River Safety Program run by medical transportation company American Medical Response.

The Kiwanis Club of the Columbia Gorge will unveil the design for the new statue – featuring a male and female lifeguard standing side by side – on Friday at Glenn Otto Community Park on the Sandy.

“We felt the need to showcase a program that’s worked, that’s saved people’s lives,” said Terry Smoke, who helped the Troutdale Booster Club found the program in 1999.

Though the club raised money for the first two years of the program, American Medical Response has paid for the lifeguards since then and helped expand the service to include High Rocks Park on the Clackamas River in Gladstone in 2002.

This summer, at least two lifeguards will patrol each park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day – though that number can grow to three or four as temperatures or crowds increase.

The lifeguards aim to provide information about water safety and potential river hazards, as well as rescue swimmers in distress. The city of Troutdale’s website warns visitors that “the currents are strong and the river is icy cold, swift and unpredictable” and encourages swimmers to use a life jacket on loan for free from American Medical Response.

According to the company, an average of two to four people drowned each year before the start of the River Safety Program. Three people have drowned in guarded areas of the two parks since 1999, the company said – one at Glenn Otto Park and two at High Rocks.

Throughout the program’s lifetime, lifeguards have rescued more than 100 people who had slipped underwater at the two parks and helped more than 1,000 people who appeared to be struggling. The number of people rescued in one summer season hit a high of 20 in 2007, but since then rescues have averaged three or four per year. So far this year, lifeguards have rescued one person and helped 23 others at the parks, American Medical Response said. Last year, the lifeguards made two rescues and 187 assists.

Monument will honor lifeguard vigilance at popular Sandy River park, High Rocks

The proposed design for the monument, which would be placed in Troutdale's Glenn Otto Park, features two lifeguards standing back to back. Photo courtesy of Chad Caswell.Chad Caswell

The monument honoring the program is partially funded through a $36,000 grant from the city of Troutdale that will cover most of the $53,000 price tag for one lifeguard figure, which Smoke said he hopes will be installed by this fall. The Kiwanis Club has set up a GoFundMe with a fundraising goal of $70,000 to cover the rest of the costs for the first figure and install the second figure by next year.

Washington-based sculptor Chad Caswell, whose parents live in Troutdale, designed the monument, which he said was inspired in part by his own experience working as a lifeguard for two years.

“The design is trying to embody that they’re there to protect us,” Caswell said. “The goal is twofold – to create a nice piece of art, but also to enhance that area and bring attention to one of Troutdale’s most popular recreational spots.”

The monument is a significant show of support for Leah Gordon, the River Safety Program coordinator and lead paramedic for Multnomah County at American Medical Response.

“It means a lot (to) myself and the entire river rescue team to be recognized in this way,” Gordon said. “With or without recognition, we would continue to show up for our community and give folks safety and security when swift water becomes dangerous.”

-- Diana Kruzman; dkruzman@oregonian.com; 503-221-5394; @DKruzman

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.