CITY OF SILVERTON RENEWS LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP - 
AGREES TO FORGIVE HALF A MILLION IN OREGON GARDEN FOUNDATION DEBT 

SILVERTON, Ore. — The City of Silverton and the Oregon Garden Foundation are entering a new chapter in their 25-year partnership by establishing a shared framework for the future through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that addresses a new Master Lease and debt forgiveness.

At the September 2, 2026, City Council Regular Meeting, Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding Oregon Garden Debt and Master Lease and authorized the City Manager to enter into the agreement. As part of the agreement, the City will forgive $571,212 of prior debt owed by the Oregon Garden Foundation, provided that both parties amend or enter into a new Master Lease.

The City of Silverton and Oregon Garden Foundation have entered into numerous agreements at various points in the history of the partnership. Some of those agreements are now outdated or contain provisions that have created misaligned expectations for the organizations. The new MOU is intended to provide greater clarity and flexibility for both parties while establishing a foundation for future strategic planning.

“This action by the City marks a monumental milestone for the Garden. By forgiving this debt, the Garden will finally be free of the significant financial burdens of our past, which will allow us a fresh start and the opportunity to focus fully on our mission and future,” said Delen Kitchen, Executive Director of The Oregon Garden.

Other sections of the MOU outline specifics on the lease negotiations. A new lease will be negotiated over the next 18 months and will address: the use of property for a future recreational trail, the Water Management Agreement, the Gordon House property, ownership of all property structures, and parking easements. These provisions are intended to clarify property rights, maintenance responsibilities, access, and future uses.  

The forgiven debt consists of $452,712 in outstanding debt-service payments related to a State of Oregon Special Public Works Fund loan, which the City continued to pay after the Foundation defaulted on its agreed-upon payments, and $118,500 in receivership costs from a 2008 case.

The City provided the Oregon Garden Foundation with approximately $200,000 annually in Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) funds to repay loan debt. In previous years, the Oregon Garden Foundation has used these funds to repay Garden Notes held by previous supporters, with the City last in line for repayment. The existing TLT agreement ends in September 2026; after that time, the portion of TLT funds previously allocated to the Oregon Garden Foundation will remain in the City’s TLT budget for future tourism-related projects.

Under the agreement, the City will continue to serve as the property owner and strategic partner, including maintaining its award-winning collaboration to provide treated effluent for irrigation. The Oregon Garden Foundation will continue to operate The Oregon Garden as an independent organization with its own board and operations. Under the Oregon Garden Foundation’s current bylaws, and in consideration of the previous receivership, the City of Silverton appoints four of the Oregon Garden Foundation’s seven board members, while the Oregon Garden Foundation appoints the remaining three. 

City-appointed board members: April Newton, Eric Hammond, Kyle Palmer, Darin Rybloom 
 
OGF-appointed board members: Jackie Franke, Heather Desmarteau-Fast, Vacant Seat 7

The Oregon Garden Foundation welcomes two newly appointed board members, Jackie Franke and Heather Desmarteau-Fast, who bring additional expertise that strengthen the organization’s work in fundraising and building partnerships in the nursery industry. The Oregon Garden Foundation currently has one vacant seat on its Board of Directors, offering an opportunity for a community member to serve and help support the future of The Oregon Garden. More information about the board and the open position is available at oregongarden.org/board-of-directors/.

The City’s continued support of The Oregon Garden also reflects the community’s broader vision for Silverton’s future. Through the City’s Comprehensive Plan Update Silverton 2050, a new Destination Strategy, and routine community surveys, the community has identified tourism, economic development, and, specifically, The Oregon Garden as important components of Silverton’s future.

The community will have an opportunity to learn more about the status of the partnership during a joint meeting of the Oregon Garden Foundation Board and Silverton City Council on the evening of September 16 at City Hall. This meeting is part of ongoing conversations and planning efforts about the future of The Oregon Garden as a destination and as a community amenity.

“The Oregon Garden has been an important part of Silverton for decades, and these conversations are about making sure it continues to be an asset for our community for years to come. Our focus now is on creating a strong foundation for its next chapter,” said Mayor Jason Freilinger. 

For the first time in years, the Oregon Garden Foundation is on the cusp of being debt-free; annual visitation has grown to 51,000 visitors annually, a 134% increase from the 2020 low, and new programming continues to expand the Oregon Garden’s offerings. With a renewed partnership and a shared focus on the future, the City and Oregon Garden Foundation are looking ahead to what is possible, and the community is invited to be part of it. Experience the colors of The Oregon Garden this fall, volunteer, learn something new, and grow with us as we look toward the future. 

###