Kaitlyn Hardwick

RARE Member Kaity HardwickPreferred Email: communitydevelopment@cityofdrain.org
Position Title: Community Development Coordinator
Organization: City of Drain
Community: Drain
Population: 1,186
County Served: Douglas County

Meet Kaitlyn Hardwick:

Kaitlyn was born and raised in West Linn, OR. She received her B.S. in Earth Science and Environmental Science from the University of Oregon in 2022. During her time at the UO, Kaity participated in undergraduate research for the City of Eugene that sought to identify the most effective fuel-treatments to prepare for a prescribed fire in at-risk oak and prairie ecosystems. Her background in physical sciences and innate drive to solve complex issues has led her to seek work with AmeriCorps, where she can put her skills to use while being a force for good.

Community and Organization:

Drain, nicknamed the “Gateway to the Pacific”, is a historic community nestled in the Umpqua Valley. It was first settled in 1847 and began to expand when it became a stop on the railroad. It was officially incorporated in 1887 and became home to two major sawmills in the area. Though these sawmills have since been shut down, Drain is still regarded as a historic Northwest timber community.

The City of Drain has a team of only nine staff members. They are kept very busy by working to provide a safe and welcoming community for its residents. Drain has one city park, two schools, two cemeteries, and a Civic Center that houses the public library and community meeting rooms. Drain is also home to one of Oregon’s historic covered bridges, the Pass Creek Covered Bridge.

Projects:

As a Community Development Coordinator, Kaitlyn will be working on completing various projects that have been deemed a priority by the city council. Her major projects include implementing a recently adopted parks plan, creating a volunteer management plan, mapping a riparian zone to provide data for a GIS map of Drain, planning the installation of a Veteran’s Memorial Bench, overhauling the city’s filing system, and planning the restoration of the historic Pass Creek Covered Bridge.