On a bright, crisp weekday afternoon in early October, young children squealed with delight as they navigated the slides, footbridges and climbing structures at the newly renovated Oakbrook Community Park in central Vancouver.

Nearby, Vancouver residents Cassandra Fletcher and Ken Houston had just finished playing at the city’s first dedicated pickleball courts. They reunited with Houston’s wife, Tracy, who was strolling on the park’s new trail system.

“We’re happy to come here because it’s close to both of our houses,” Fletcher said.

The longtime Vancouver friends used to travel to Washougal’s Hathaway Park or parks around Portland to find available courts but are now able to stick closer to home thanks to the Oakbrook Community Park renovations.

The upgrades at Oakbrook are part of t

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