City of Hillsboro, OR
Home MenuHillsboro News
Meet Ryan Stee: Parks & Recreation Project Manager
A 5th generation Oregonian with a love of the outdoors, community, and creativity, Ryan Stee contributes his knowledge of design and planning to the City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department so that community members feel a sense of safety and inclusion.
Currently, Ryan is leading the Community-Guided Parks & Recreation System Plan project, which is open for feedback on Engage Hillsboro.
We asked Ryan to share his thoughts on his work and what’s ahead.
Tell us more about yourself.
I grew up in Prineville, Oregon (near Bend) on a small farm raising 4-H cattle and going to my brother’s rodeos. I wanted to be a bull rider, but mom said no, so that was the end of that.
I come from a family of long-time Oregon farmers. I went to college in Arizona to study design (architecture, interiors, landscape and planning) where I started my career in planning and urban design. Since I was a kid, I always wanted to be a creator — someone that serves the community and builds things — that’s what brought me to civil service and now parks.
What led you to work for the City of Hillsboro?
I was looking for a change — my next step from the City of Lake Oswego. What caught my attention and sold me on Hillsboro was the focus on inclusion. The idea that I could show up to work as my authentic self and not have to hide or playdown who I am was a big deal.
I have always been an out gay guy, but not everywhere did I feel safe to just be myself as I do here. For individuals like me, that is a big deal. To be welcomed as you are and even celebrated makes a big difference in a person's work life — and life in general. That’s what sold me on Hillsboro.
What is it like to spend a day doing your job?
Well, it tends to start out with a plan to complete a few tasks, at least, but ends up with doing a dozen other things not on that list. In all seriousness, it's never boring, there is more than enough to do. I spend a lot of time connecting to other people, going over details for projects, and currently, I’m focusing on the Community-Guided Parks & Recreation System Plan.
This project is one of the most exciting projects I have worked on in my career. Focusing on authentically connecting to a variety of communities that have been or are currently being marginalized is a big task that I feel privileged to take on. For this project, everything is in the details, so we spend quite a bit of time thinking those out.
How does your job directly benefit Hillsboro community members?
I hope the work I do is creating a sense of “place” and a culture of inclusion. Those are very lofty goals, but I try to make the projects I work on the best quality. I take extra care when planning and managing these projects and I like to think 50+ years into the future to assure they are a positive aspect in the community.
What do you do for fun?
I love nature — particularly being in the woods and going camping, hiking, trail running, and exploring when I can. I even love an alpine climb here and there.
Spending time with my friends is a top priority. Most people don’t know that I am an introvert and a homebody. I spend time gardening and cooking when I have the time as well. I am also an amateur woodworker and like to build and create items for my home, my last project being a garden shed.
For mental health and happiness, I like to get out and trail run or do some weightlifting. I volunteer and currently serve on a parks board in a neighboring community, as well as visit other communities to talk about LGBTQ+ issues, inclusion, and mental health.
Who inspires you?
This may sound a little goofy and vague, but I find inspiration in people who are unapologetically, authentically themselves in a kind and caring way. I am in awe of people who follow their passions and follow their dreams while uplifting others.
Tell us something people wouldn’t guess about you?
Most people see me as maybe a bubbly, gregarious person. Well, this isn’t such a secret since I have been presenting about anxiety to City of Hillsboro staff, but I’ve had severe and debilitating anxiety for about 37 years and counting.
I have gone from suffering to managing (for the most part) my anxiety over the past 12 years or so. It's such a significant part of my life and it has shaped how I see the world and interact with it. That is why I started speaking about my experience in hopes of helping others with their own journey in going from suffering to managing anxiety and mental health challenges.