The Oregon Heritage Commission is offering grants to qualified museums for collections, heritage tourism, and education and interpretation projects. Awards typically range between $2,000 and $10,000.
Museums may apply for a variety of projects. Collections projects may include cataloging, archival storage, disaster preparedness, and conservation. Heritage tourism projects may include museum marketing and promotions, enhancing visitor experience, and training for museum staff. Education and interpretation projects may include exhibits, online education, school classes, workshops, and camps. Museums may also partner with other organizations for projects that might be outside of the museum, but still meet the museum’s mission.
“This program funds a variety of museum projects. We hope to see both creative and practical proposals,” said Oregon Heritage Commission coordinator Beth Dehn. Past projects include interpretation at the Gilliam County Historical Society, High Desert Museum, and Oregon Jewish Museum; collections projects by Benton County Historical Society, Gresham Historical Society, Lane County Historical Society, Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Tillamook Forest Center, Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society, and Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health; and facility projects by Eugene Debbs Potts Foundation, North Lincoln County Historical Society, and Oregon Daughters of the American Revolution.
The online grant application is simple to use and includes plenty of support. A free workshop specific to this grant and how to use the online grant application will be offered February 13, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. It will be available in person or as a webinar. Recorded trainings and tips are also online.
The Heritage Commission is comprised of nine people representing Oregon’s heritage and geographical diversity who have been appointed by the Governor. There are also nine advisory representatives from state agencies and statewide organizations. The commission’s mission is to secure, sustain, and enhance Oregon's heritage by ensuring coordination of heritage initiatives by public and private organizations; advocacy on its behalf; education of the public about its extent and value; and promotion and celebration of its diversity.
To learn more about museum grants, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.Gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is calling for qualified candidates to apply for two vacant positions on the agency’s Local Government Grant Program Advisory Committee.
The open positions are a county representative for counties east of the Cascade Mountains, and a citizen representative for the public at large.
The Local Government Grant Program is funded by the Oregon Lottery and awards about $6 million annually to community outdoor recreation projects throughout the state. The ten-member Advisory Committee meets annually in June to review project applications and recommend funding recipients to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission.
Committee members typically serve four-year terms. Time commitment for committee members includes the annual June meeting, held over three days in Salem, and reviewing the several grant applications leading up to the meeting.
Qualified candidates for the vacant positions will have a demonstrated interest in outdoor recreation. To apply, contact Mark Cowan, OPRD grant program coordinator, and request an interest form: k.cowan@oregon.gov">mark.cowan@oregon.gov or 503-986-0591.
Learn more about the Local Government Grant Program and the Advisory Committee online: oregon.gov/oprd/GRANTS/pages/local.aspx
The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries is offering grants for qualified historic cemeteries. The annual grants fund projects that preserve historic cemeteries. Projects funded in the past include marker repair workshops, fencing, signs, interpretive panels and brochures, security lighting, access improvements, records management, and more.
Awards typically range between $1,000 and $8,000, but have been higher. Anyone may apply for a grant. Projects must be related to historic cemeteries listed with the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries. Recent projects include marker repair and workshops in several cemeteries, installations of signs and informational kiosks, a preservation plan, and a fence replacement.
“Our goal is to preserve Oregon’s historic cemeteries and offer support throughout the application process,” said historic cemeteries program coordinator Kuri Gill. Past awards include projects in in Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Lane, Multnomah Sherman, Columbia, Union, and Umatilla Counties.
The online grant application is simple to use and includes plenty of support. A free workshop specific to this grant and how to use the online grant application system will be offered February 24, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. It will be available in person or as a webinar. Recorded trainings and tips are also online.
State law established the seven-member historic cemeteries commission to maintain a listing of all historic cemeteries and gravesites in Oregon; promote public education on the significance of historic cemeteries; and help obtain financial and technical assistance for restoring, improving and maintaining their appearances. To learn more about the grants or workshops visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.Gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.
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ESTACADA, Ore. – Milo McIver State Park will be closed Aug. 16-25 for the Vortex2020 music festival, set for Aug. 22-23. The 10-day closure will allow for event setup and cleanup.
Vortex2020 is a two-day music and cultural festival celebrating community, historic awareness and stewardship of public lands. It is being produced, planned and funded by a private nonprofit named Vortex2020. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will provide the venue and assist with logistics to prioritize safety for all attendees.
“We are working closely with event organizers to ensure the park’s natural and cultural resources are protected,” said OPRD District Manager Mark Stevenson. “All park rules and regulations will apply, and visitor safety will be our top priority.”
Event organizers are planning for 10,000 attendees, plus an additional 2,000 event staff.
“We are accustomed to a large number of visitors and fully equipped to host this event,” Stevenson said. “This park was designed with heavy use in mind.” On a busy summer Saturday, 4,000-5,000 visitors come to the park to recreate.
The festival is a tribute to the original Vortex I rock concert, held 50 years ago in August 1970. Gov. Tom McCall made history by partnering with anti-war demonstrators to organize a weeklong “biodegradable festival of life” at Milo McIver in an attempt to avoid a Vietnam War protest in downtown Portland during a scheduled visit of President Nixon.
Organizers view Vortex2020 as a distinct event that honors the original. The mission states: “Vortex2020 will not be a nostalgia project, but a fresh statement of our values: community, unity, kindness, historic awareness, and stewardship of our precious public lands.”
This approach aligns with OPRD’s role as manager of state parks on behalf of Oregonians and presenter of history connected to those parks.
“Vortex I was a significant event in Oregon’s history, and we share Vortex2020’s commitment to honoring that history,” said OPRD Deputy Director MG Devereux. “We are pleased to partner with Vortex2020 by providing the venue.”
OPRD is working with recreation partners and property owners to develop temporary recreation options nearby during the closure.
More information on OPRD’s role in Vortex2020 is here. Information about the event, lineup and tickets can be found at vortex2020.org.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Director Lisa Sumption has appointed a new member to the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries.
Valerie Vines Magee, from Rockaway Beach, has experience with parks, public commissions, historic cemeteries, and a historical society. She has used commission resources in the past, including a grant for the Nehalem American Legion Cemetery. According to Vines Magee “The commission has greatly assisted my efforts in bringing resources to the cemetery and major improvements have been made. This beautiful site, that is still operational, now has site signage, an information board, and a cedar, split rail boundary fence. I hope to assist others, as well as bring additional knowledge and support to our site in Nehalem, with my appointment to the commission.”
“I am thrilled to welcome Val to the commission,” stated Kuri Gill, coordinator for the state historic cemeteries program. “Her local, award winning work, is a great model to share through the commission.”
The seven-member Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries supports OPRD historic cemetery preservation efforts by offering training, educational resources, coordination and grants. Its other members are Charlotte Lehan of Wilsonville, Bev Power of Medford, Milo Reed of Portland, Sarah Silbernagel of Pendleton, and Scott Stuemke of Bend.
For more information about the commission and the historic cemeteries program visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Historic Cemeteries Program Coordinator, Kuri Gill at i.Gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oregon.gov or (503) 986-0685.
The Governor’s Task Force on the Outdoors will hold their final meeting 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St. SE, Salem. The meeting is open to the public and will include designated time for public comment.
On the agenda: reviewing work to date; refining final recommended actions and criteria related to outdoor recreation funding; and clarifying next steps for the final report and implementation.
View the detailed agenda online.
The meeting is the final in a series of six that have been held throughout Oregon since May 2019. The meetings were convened by the Office of Outdoor Recreation.
Gov. Brown established the task force early in 2019 with a one-year directive to explore long-term strategies for elevating outdoor recreation in Oregon. The task force’s final report will be publicly released this spring and presented to the governor, state legislature and the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission.
Overall strategies developed by the group aim to support access to and participation in outdoor recreation, as well as supporting local and state economies. The group has identified potential actions for these specific strategies:
View a draft of the task force’s strategies and actions report online.
Task force members were drawn from public and private sectors, and were appointed by the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission. View the full membership list online: oregon.gov/orec/Pages/Governors-Task-Force.aspx
Individuals who require special accommodations to attend the meeting should contact Carrie Lovellette, OPRD executive assistant, at least three days in advance: 503-986-0733 or rie.Lovellette@oregon.gov">Carrie.Lovellette@oregon.gov
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) has formed a Rule Advisory Committee to review the agency’s proposed changes to Oregon Administrative Rules governing Oregon’s administration of the federal National Register of Historic Places program.
The Committee begins a series of four meetings later this month to review the proposed changes. All meetings are open to the public and will start at 9 a.m. in the Card room of the Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill Street SE, Salem.
Meeting schedule:
Meeting agendas will include discussions about: counting property owners and objections; how Tribal governments, state agencies and local jurisdictions participate in the nomination process; administrative functions like staff duties, public notices and hearing procedures; and determining circumstances that would exempt nominations from public disclosure, e.g., protecting culturally-sensitive information.
Ian Johnson, associate deputy state historic preservation officer, says recent contentious National Register nominations spurred OPRD into reviewing Oregon’s rules for the National Register program.
“We identified discrepancies between state and federal rules, so we’re moving to fix those issues and refine the state rules to work better for Oregonians,” said Johnson.
Committee members were appointed by OPRD and drawn from Tribal, state, county and local governments, preservation and natural resource organizations, and citizens with an interest in the National Register program.
OPRD will consider the committee’s recommendations and present the proposed rule changes to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission. If the Commission approves the proposal, OPRD will begin the public rulemaking process later this year.
More information about rulemaking is available on the OPRD website: oregon.gov/oprd/RULES/Pages/Rulemaking%20Notices.aspx
The National Register of Historic Places was established as part of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and is maintained by the National Parks Service.
Individuals who require special accommodations to attend the meetings should contact Tracy Collis, OPRD executive suppot specialist, at least three days in advance of a meeting by calling (503) 986-0690.
The Local Government Grant Program (LGGP) is now accepting applications for the 2020 grant cycle. The LGGP helps local government agencies fund outdoor park and recreation areas and facilities, and acquire property for park purposes. Approximately $6 million in reimbursement funds are available for the 2020 cycle.
Eligible applicants: cities, counties, metropolitan service districts, park and recreation districts, and port districts.
Program grants are split into large, small and planning categories. Application deadlines for each grant type:
Access the LGGP application online at oprdgrants.org. New applicants must first request an account via the website before they are granted application access.
Two workshops will be held in February to help new and returning applicants navigate the application process and learn about the program:
Information presented at both workshops will be the same. Registration is required. To register, contact Mark Cowan, Grant Program Coordinator, at k.cowan@oregon.gov">mark.cowan@oregon.gov.
Additional information about the LGGP, including the grant manual, application instructions and program schedule is also on oprdgrants.org.
The LGGP is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The program has awarded more than $60 million in grant reimbursement funds since 1999.
The Oregon Heritage Commission will meet in Cascade Locks January 12-13.
On January 12, the Commission will gather at 1:15 p.m. to tour heritage sites in the area.
On January 13, a public business meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the Best Western Columbia River conference room at 735 Wa Na Pa St, Cascade Locks, 97014. The agenda includes Oregon Heritage Tradition review, presentations by the State Library of Oregon and the Clackamas County Heritage Council, a discussion about Oregon Heritage Grant rulemaking history and reports by commissioners.
The Heritage Commission is comprised of nine people representing Oregon's heritage and geographical diversity who have been appointed by the Governor. There are nine advisory representatives from state agencies and statewide organizations. The mission of the Oregon Heritage Commission is to secure, sustain, and enhance Oregon's heritage by ensuring coordination of heritage initiatives by public and private organizations; advocacy on its behalf; education of the public about its extent and value; and promotion and celebration of its diversity. For more information, contact coordinator Beth Dehn at 503-986-0696 or Beth.Dehn@oregon.gov
Commission meetings are open to the public and their agendas include opportunities for public comment. The meeting site is accessible to people with disabilities. Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling (503) 986?0690 at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
For more information about the commissions, visit www.oregonheritage.org