Former Lake Oswego (Ore.) High School track coach John Parks was arrested on Thursday for trespassing on district property while he attended a high school sporting event.
Parks has previously been at the center of the transgender student-athlete debate in Oregon, eventually leading to his dismissal and a lawsuit against the school district.
According to The Oregonian, school officials asked Parks to leave the sporting event, but he refused. Police were called and Parks was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal trespass. He was booked into the Clackamas County Jail.
Related: HS Track Coach Fired After Transgender Policy Criticism Files First Amendment Lawsuit
In 2024, Parks made public comments objecting to transgender athletes participating in girls’ track meets. He wrote a letter to the Oregon School Activities Association in 2024, protesting trans athlete participation and suggesting the creation of an “open” category for trans athletes to compete separately.
Later that year, Lake Oswego High School did not renew Parks’ contract and began an investigation into his conduct.
Parks subsequently sued the Lake Oswego School District, asking for the termination to be “excised from his employment record and personnel file, and that he be rehired as a special education teacher.” The judge declined to grant him that request.
The no trespass order was issued against Parks in May 2025. The Order says, “If we find you conducting business at our schools without necessary prior arrangements, district approvals, and prior payments of fees, you will be considered trespassing.”
According to WestLinn Tidings, that order was issued after Parks advertised a summer track program that he had not received permission to host on school property. The program was advertised as taking place at Lakeridge Middle School and High School.
The order further said, “You have not submitted any requests, let alone received any approvals, for holding events at these locations, nor at any other district facility.”
