Around 1953 some members of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) in Beaverton-area schools started campaigning to create a recreation district, as Beaverton had few parks at the time.

[2][3] They drew up a constitution for the group, elected Elsie Stuhr as the president, and started holding board meetings in July 1953.

[6] Then beginning in June 1954 the then county court, now board of commissioners, held meetings to work out what the boundaries would be for the proposed district.

[2][7] School districts in the area that withdrew fully or in part from the proposal included Aloha, McKinley, Groner, Sunset Valley, McKay, Bethany, and Cooper Mountain.

[8] The main arguments in support of the district were that increased recreation activities would decrease juvenile delinquency and that facilities within the area would reduce travel costs.

[9] At that time the district included all of Garden Home, Beaverton, Bonny Slope, Raleigh Hills, and the Washington County portion of Sylvan.

[11][12] William B. Pond was hired as the district's first superintendent in July 1955, and he started work in the position on September 1 at a salary of $7,500 per year.

[13] Voters in the district approved the issuing of a $10 million bond in November 1974,[14] but voted down an increase in the tax base in May 1978.

[1] Tualatin Hills has over 200 parks or facilities totaling 2,100 acres (850 ha), spread across 50 square miles (130 km2) in eastern Washington County.

[1] Tualatin Hills also operates a variety of athletic fields and facilities, many in-conjunction with the Beaverton School District.