Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Graduation is quickly approaching, and so are the ideas of how to celebrate graduation. Many students have some sort of celebration outside of commencement.

These much anticipated graduation party plans can be made more difficult by the fact that a large number of students live in small, shared apartments, dorms or rooms rented out by families. Additionally, some students have the complication of having to move out of said dwelling right around graduation time, leaving them with no location to host any kind of party. Fortunately, there are a number of places available for rent around Monmouth and Independence perfect for hosting graduation festivities.

Main Street Park

One of the closest options to campus, Main Street Park is located in downtown Monmouth and offers a spacious lawn perfect for a picnic party. The proximity to various restaurants and shops means there will be no shortage of food or refreshments. According the city’s website, the fee depends on the size of the event and reservations can be made by calling the City Recorder at (503) 751-0145.

Riverview Park

For another outdoor option, Riverfront park is another great location located in downtown Independence. The river right next to the park and the walking trails nearby add to the outdoorsy summer feel in warm weather. The application, which also contains pricing and available hours, can be found at ci.independence.or.us/recreation/riverview-park.

The Gentle House

Located on campus, the Gentle House grounds is an outdoor venue that offers some privacy from public spaces. Western students and alumni can also enjoy a 10% discount on the reservation fees, which can be found at wou.edu/gentlehouse.

Jubilee

For a smaller gathering, consider Independence’s dessert bar Jubilee and its reservable private back room. More information and reservation booking can be found at 296 S Main St, Independence, OR.

Fee Mail Depot

Many students know this located for shipping out textbooks rented online, but this location also has an outdoor patio space that can hold around 40 people. The base price for this venue is $100 for about four hours, but the business will cut that price in half if you rent your decorations from them as well.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy