Paddlers at Cook Park can borrow Coast Guard-approved life jackets for free from a new eight-foot-tall loaner station near the boat launch.

Eagle Scout Gabe Robbins and four fellow scouts from Troop 419 built the kiosk, which holds 12 life jackets in a range of sizes. Tualatin River Keepers Program Manager Mark Fitzsimons officially installed it on Sept. 1, making it the first station of its kind in Tigard, Tigard Life first reported.

Tigard City Councilor Faraz Ghoddusi, members of the Tigard Rotary Club and city staff turned out for the installation. Ghoddusi said the kiosk adds a safety layer as the park's river access expands.

"We're very excited … increasing the safety for everyone who's coming out," Ghoddusi told Tigard Life.

The station joins similar kiosks already operating at the Farmington Paddle Launch and Rood Bridge Park in Hillsboro. Cook Park sits at River Mile 9.8 on the Tualatin River, which the U.S. Department of the Interior designated a National Water Trail in 2020.

Fitzsimons said the Tualatin River Keepers plan to add kiosks at launches in West Linn, Tualatin and King City. He described Cook Park as "the prime area access, as far as use goes, to a national water trail" and said King City has secured grants for its own river amenities.

Volunteers are already collecting donated life jackets to keep the station stocked through river season, Fitzsimons said. Because water levels at Cook Park rise in winter, the group plans to move the kiosk to higher ground during the off-season. Fitzsimons is also working on bilingual signage so paddlers can quickly spot the station's purpose.

The safety gear fills a real need. Oregon recorded 34 drowning deaths in natural water in 2024, the most recent year tracked by the Oregon Health Authority. The Centers for Disease Control ranks the state 10th nationally for drowning fatalities, according to Your Oregon News, citing CDC data.

Residents who want to donate Coast Guard-approved life jackets can reach the Nautical Safety Foundation at nsf-nw.org/donate. A statewide map of loaner stations is available on the Oregon State Marine Board's website.

The Cook Park boat launch access road and lower parking lot remain closed to vehicles through October for construction of a new accessible dock. River access by foot or bike stays open.