Free On-Street Parking In Downtown Salem Nov. 29 In Celebration Of Small Business Day - 11/07/25

Salem temporarily suspends downtown paid on-street parking Saturday, Nov. 29

• Free on-street parking downtown from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 29

Salem, Ore. – In celebration of Small Business Day and the kickoff of the 2025 holiday shopping season, the City of Salem will temporarily suspend paid on-street parking in the Downtown Parking District on Saturday, November 29, 2025. This suspension will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., supporting local businesses and encouraging community engagement during this special event.

"Small businesses are the heart of Salem’s economy and a big part of what makes our downtown unique and special. We are excited to celebrate our local businesses on November 29 and kick off the holiday season by encouraging our community to shop locally, explore downtown and support the businesses that make Salem thrive,” said Krishna Namburi, Salem City Manager.

Downtown Salem is a vibrant destination filled with unique shops, entertainment venues and scenic walking and biking trails. Whether you're exploring on foot or by bike, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. For more information about things to do in Salem, go to www.cityofsalem.net/community/things-to-do.

Information about parking in Salem is available at www.cityofsalem.net/parking.

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Salem Encourages Neighbors To Support Families Impacted By Suspension Of SNAP Benefits Through Donations To Local Food Banks - 11/05/25

Salem, Ore. — At their November 10 meeting, the Salem City Council will consider donating $20,000 to the Marion Polk Food Share for their work in supporting families impacted by the suspension of SNAP benefits that took effect on Nov. 1. 

The Salem City Council is considering this action while employees across the organization are in the midst of an annual charitable giving campaign. Employees can direct donations to Marion Polk Food Share through the campaign. The charitable giving campaign, which has raised more than $8,000 from City employees so far, is slated to end Dec. 5. The City asks members of our community to join together in support of their neighbors in need.

“Our neighbors who rely on — or plan for — this assistance to supplement their household food budgets and feed their families did not receive it Saturday,” said Salem City Manager Krishna Namburi. “As of today, as much as half of the funding for November may be released soon. As federal support is restored, it will take time for the support to reach households. In the meantime, every bit we can offer helps. I encourage our community to come together, as Salem always does, to support families and neighbors in need.”

Federal partial payments may be made to states to reinstate SNAP benefits. When states receive this partial funding, the administration announced that procedural difficulties will likely delay the partial SNAP benefits from reaching households in November. If approved by Council, the City’s donation would be available to Marion Polk Food Share immediately.

More about finding help. Residents in need of immediate food support are encouraged to explore the following resources:

• Call 211 for assistance connecting to local food programs and emergency services.
• Visit 211.org to locate nearby food banks, pantries and community meal programs.
• Visit foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org to search for local food distribution sites throughout Oregon.

If you are looking for a way to help local community members impacted by the disruption, please visit https://marionpolkfoodshare.org/ways-to-give/.

More about SNAP. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly food benefits to help individuals and families by providing access to healthy food. Federally funded and administered through the Oregon Department of Human Services, SNAP benefits are available to Oregon residents who meet certain income guidelines. In 2024, 1 in 6 Oregon residents received SNAP benefits and more than 54 percent of SNAP participants are in families with children, 37 percent are older adults or disabled and 41 percent are in working families.^[1]  SNAP benefits are provided to eligible low-income individuals and families through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which functions like a debit card for buying groceries.

SNAP funds ensure that families don’t have to choose between rent and food or medical care and their next meal. A total of 46,392 households in Marion and Polk counties receive SNAP benefits; 29,713 of those who benefit are children. The average benefit across both counties is $334 per month. The total amount of SNAP benefits distributed to families in those two counties every month is $15.6 million — which is more than the total value of food the Marion Polk Food Share distributes in a year.[2]

More about Marion Polk Food Share. Marion Polk Food Share distributes food for individuals and families to more than 70 local partners, including food pantries and meal sites, and delivers Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities.

• Marion Polk Food Share - Food Assistance in the Mid-Valley.

Salem Public Library To Expand Hours On November 10 - 10/27/25

Salem, Ore. -- Following community support for the May 2025 Salem Livability Levy, the City of Salem is expanding hours the Salem Public Library is open. Beginning November 10, both the Main Library and the West Salem Branch will be open longer to give the community more access to programs, services, and meeting spaces.

When is the Main Library open? Beginning November 10, the Main Library, 585 Liberty St. SE, will add evening hours Tuesday through Thursday. The Library will also be open on Sunday. New hours will be:

• 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
• 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

When is the West Salem Branch open? Beginning November 10, the West Salem Branch, 395 Glen Creek Rd. NW, will include an additional day and longer hours of service. New hours will be:

• 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday
• 12 p.m. -7 p.m. Wednesday
• 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday

New library open hours were set in response to a community survey that showed a strong preference for restored Sunday and evening hours at the Main Library as well as Monday hours at the West Salem Branch. Open hours at the Main Library will increase to 48 hours from 38 hours per week. Open hours at the West Salem Branch will increase from 10 hours to 21 hours per week.

Join an open house to celebrate! Open house celebrations are planned at each library location. The community is invited for treats from:

• 10 a.m. to noon Monday, November 10 at the West Salem Branch
• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, November 16 at the Main Library

Why is this important? Services were cut in 2024 due to a large funding gap in the City of Salem General Fund caused by rising costs and statewide limits on property taxes. Library patrons reported inability to access Library services as a result. 

Expanded service is made possible by the five-year Livability Levy, passed by voters in May 2025. The levy allowed the Library to add three staff positions and to fill vacant positions. The levy also supports operations of Parks and Recreation and Center 50+ services to the community. Learn more about the Livability Levy proposal on the City’s website.
 

Other communities often use similar levies to fund schools, public transportation, and other local services.
 

For more information about available services and programs at Salem Public Library, visit www.cityofsalem.net/community/library or contact library staff at library@cityofsalem.net or 503-588-6315.

City Of Salem Partners With Boys & Girls Clubs For Red Ribbon Week (Photo) - 10/23/25

• October 27-31 is Red Ribbon Week in Salem, part of National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month
• One of this year’s messages is preventing opioid use.

Salem, Ore. – The City of Salem and the Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion, and Polk Counties are working together to teach kids how to live healthy, drug-free lives. During Red Ribbon Week, kids at all eight Marion County Boys & Girls Clubs will take part in fun, interactive activities and lessons about staying drug-free.

Red Ribbon Week is the largest and oldest national prevention program for youth in the country. This is the second year the City has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs for this observance.

“Local Hospitals and Emergency Room data continues to show that children, teens, and young adults are overdosing and sometimes dying from opioids, including from pills laced with fentanyl. In 2024, 10-to-24-year-olds, visited ER’s for opioid overdoses at a rate of 44 per 100,000 people in Marion County. We want to see that rate get to zero,” said Laurie Shaw Casarez, Opioid Prevention Coordinator for the City. Her work is funded by money from national opioid settlements.

Find more drug statistics about Marion County.

 Activities for Red Ribbon Week

This year’s theme is “Life is a Puzzle. Solve it Drug Free.” From October 27 to October 31, each day will have a special focus:

• Monday: Community & Connection – Kids will make a red construction paper linked chain to hang in their club. They will learn the importance of being linked into a supportive community to avoid loneliness and make good choices.
• Tuesday: Life is a Puzzle: Solve it Drug Free – Kids will play with puzzles donated by community members. They will learn how making good choices piece by piece helps build a bright future, just like putting together a puzzle.
• Wednesday: Wake Up Drug Free – Younger kids will make positive affirmation collages with morning-themed pictures to keep by their beds. Older kids will decorate doors with the morning theme at the clubs. These activities will remind kids to start each day optimistic, brave and drug-free.
• Thursday and Friday: Say Boo to Bad Choices (Drugs are a Trick, not a Treat) – Peer pressure can feel like a scary monster. Kids make little pompom monsters to take home with the saying “Stronger than the Monster.” Children will also choose their personal refusal skills strategies through lessons and discussions. 

Middle schoolers at the clubs will learn about the impact of vaping and the dangers of fentanyl through videos and discussions. They will make creative journals that will include a personalized 4-step peer pressure exit plan along with other activities.

Other Observances

The City is also planning a Red Ribbon Week proclamation at the October 27 meeting of the Salem City Council.

“Red Ribbon Week serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate and develop healthy, happy and brave children and youth through drug prevention activities celebrating a drug-free life,” the proclamation reads.

To honor Red Ribbon Week, the Union Street Railroad Bridge, now a pedestrian bridge, will be lit up in red.  

Salem Housing Authority Shares Information On Food Resources Following ODHS Announcement Of Potential SNAP Benefit Disruption (Photo) - 10/21/25

SALEM, Ore. — The Salem Housing Authority (SHA) is sharing information to help residents access local food resources and support services, following the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) announcement that November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) resources will be disrupted due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. SNAP benefits are provided to eligible low-income individuals and families through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which functions like a debit card for buying groceries. As early as November 1, funds will be paused to eligible individuals and families.

“We know this news adds real worry for families already doing their best to make ends meet,” said Jessica Blakely, Deputy Director of the Salem Housing Authority. “When something as essential as food is uncertain, it impacts every part of life. We want our residents to know they’re not alone — help is out there, and we’re here to connect them to it.”

Residents in need of immediate food support are encouraged to explore the following resources:

• Call 211 for assistance connecting to local food programs and emergency services.

• Visit 211.org to locate nearby food banks, pantries, and community meal programs.
• Visit foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org to search for local food distribution sites throughout Oregon.

If you are looking for a way to help local community members impacted by the disruption, please visit https://marionpolkfoodshare.org/ways-to-give/.

“This is a difficult time for many in our community,” Blakely added. “We will continue doing everything we can to share accurate information, connect families with resources, and stand alongside those facing food insecurity.”

 

Salem Park Upgrades Enter The Home Stretch (Photo) - 10/17/25

• Geer Community Park gets a new skatepark, dog parks, enhanced fields, improved pedestrian access and added picnic shelters
• Four neighborhood parks get new and resurfaced courts and playgrounds
• Work at more parks is planned for 2026

Salem, Ore. – Salem residents will soon be able to get outside and enjoy the benefits of new and improved features at some of Salem’s parks.

“We encourage everyone to enjoy all of these refreshed spaces across the park system and to get excited about the new facilities at Geer Park, which will be coming online soon,” said Rob Romanek, program manager and park planner.

Geer Community Park

Geer Community Park is receiving the most dramatic makeover. These improvements are a big step toward completing the Geer Park Master Plan. Features include:

• A state-of-the-art skatepark and related pathway improvements
• A fenced dog park with separate areas for energetic and quieter dogs, with an accessible, paved entry and two small shelters with benches
• Reconstructed soccer fields with regrading, new irrigation and new drainage
• Upgrades to two baseball fields, adding artificial turf to the infields that will allow for both baseball and softball play and longer seasonal use
• Reservable picnic shelters near the dog park and skatepark

 New sidewalk along Park Avenue NE and an improved pedestrian crossing will allow people to safely walk from northeast Salem through the Oregon State Hospital Campus. When connected to the new path being developed with the skatepark, it will provide a dedicated walking route from northeast neighborhoods through Geer Park.

Skatepark Opening Soon

The skatepark is nearly complete. A soft opening is planned for some time between mid-November and Thanksgiving, depending on weather. Evergreen Skateparks, which designed and built the skatepark, will return with a small crew on November 17 to install additional skate features in the plaza space adjacent to the skatepark. They will be working until the day before Thanksgiving.

The parking lot at Geer Park will remain closed for a while after the skatepark opens, while work continues on features closer to the parking lot. In the meantime, street parking is available on Park Avenue. A new path will allow access to the skatepark.

“We ask your patience as we complete the finishing touches,” Romanek said. “We know our skating community is eager to get rolling.”

Fields and Dog Park

Meanwhile, at the other end of Geer Park, work is continuing on the soccer fields, dog park and an additional picnic shelter. 

Fields at McKay Park, River Road Park, and Wallace Marine Park are filling the community soccer need for the time being.

The artificial turf on the baseball fields has been installed. New natural grass is planned for the outfields. Salem staff also made irrigation system retrofits on the two ball fields. They replaced and modified the inner band of irrigation lines and heads that run between the new artificial turf and the natural grass outfields.

City staff were able to cut the cost of the irrigation work in half. Originally, the turf installation contractor was scheduled to do the work at a cost of more than $20,000. By doing the work in-house, staff saved the City more than $10,000.

The fields and dog park won’t be open for use until around mid-spring. The grass needs time to get established and parts of the project may not be complete until then.

Funding

The voter-approved 2022 Safety and Livability Bond is paying for the soccer fields, dog park and its nearby picnic shelter. The Park System Development Charge Fund is paying for the sidewalk extension and crossing, and most of the skatepark, related trails and picnic shelter. A $500,000 grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will complete the skatepark.

The artificial turf on the baseball fields is funded by a combination of bond funds and system development charges.

None of these projects involve money from the City’s General Fund.

Volunteer Efforts Support Ongoing Improvements

Over the past several months, community volunteers and neighbors of Geer Park have dedicated many hours to maintaining and improving the existing bike park area, including revitalizing the unpaved bike skill trail. These efforts have enhanced visibility and created smoother riding surfaces, improving safety and accessibility for riders of all ages and skill levels. Additional features, such as trail markers and maps, are currently in the works.

Neighborhood Parks

Four neighborhood parks are also receiving improvements thanks to funding from the 2022 Safety and Livability Bond.

New facilities are now ready for use, with the exception of those at Hoover Park. Work at Hoover Park is approximately a week away from completion. The changes will be worth the wait.

Damaged and unusable tennis courts are being replaced with new basketball hoops and a compact, paved soccer/futsal mini pitch. Hoops at both ends of the mini pitch will also support basketball. This is the only facility of its kind in the Salem-Keizer area.

The system was provided by Musco, a company known for sports field lighting. It was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, which awarded the City a $10,000 grant to help make the system more affordable.

The work at all off these parks focuses on caring for existing facilities, improving reliability and reducing long-term maintenance challenges.

Work at the other parks includes:

• Highland Park: Resurfacing, fencing and lighting of tennis and pickleball courts. One tennis court has become two dedicated pickleball courts with permanent nets.
• Livingston Park: New playground equipment and improvements to the playground area.
• Morningside Park: New playground equipment and access improvements. The multi-use court has also been fully rebuilt.

The Parks Planning, Engineering and Parks Operations staff members have bene working hard to deliver these improvements.

“The combined efforts at Geer, Hoover, Highland, Livingston ad Morningside Parks really demonstrate our commitment to both investing in new community amenities in a measured way (as funding is available) and taking care of what we already have,” said Romanek.

What’s Next?

More park upgrades are planned in 2026:

McKay Park soccer fields will be rebuilt after Geer Park’s fields are open again. New permanent restrooms and a picnic shelter will also be added.

Riverfront Park’s playground will e replaced and expanded. In addition, park-wide updates to the electrical system are planned to support events and improve reliability for years to come. Construction at Riverfront Park should begin in January or February.

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