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News Release

01-22-2026 County Parks Improve Safety Through Connectivity And Infrastructure Upgrades (Photo) - 01/22/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2026

County Parks Improve Safety Through Connectivity and Infrastructure Upgrades


(Douglas County, Ore.) The Douglas County Board of Commissioners along with Douglas County Parks Department Director Mark Wall, are pleased to highlight ongoing safety and service upgrades across our park system. These improvements include Wi-Fi coverage, updated life vest stations and signage, and the addition of a camera system at the boat ramp at Chief Miwaleta County Park and Campground. The new enhancements are part of a broader effort to improve visitor safety and bring modern connectivity to our Douglas County Parks.


“The Douglas County Parks Department continues to find ways to make our parks better. These modernization and safety initiatives are their latest efforts in adding new and improved amenities to our amazing parks system.”
– Parks Liaison Commissioner Chris Boice


Over the past few years, Parks staff, through a partnership with a local internet provider, Douglas Fast Net (DFN) have worked to bring reliable Wi-Fi utilizing fiber optic cables into several high-use and historically low-cell-coverage locations. This includes Windy Cove County Park’s Loop A & B Campgrounds in Winchester Bay, Whistler's Bend County Park & Campground (near Glide), Chief Miwaleta County Park and Campground (near Azalea), Umpqua Dunes RV Park (Winchester Bay), and Charles V. Stanton County Park and Campground (near Canyonville). In many of these parks, especially Whistler’s Bend and Chief Miwaleta, where cell service is minimal or non-existent, adding Wi-Fi becomes a vital tool in the event of an emergency.


“Everyone lives in a connected world now,” explained Douglas County Parks Director Mark Wall. “In some of our remote parks, you used to have to run down the road just to search for a cell signal to call for help.” Adding Wi-Fi to these parks isn’t just an amenity, “it serves as a critical safety feature and is something that today’s customers expect.”


In addition to connectivity upgrades, Douglas County continues to prioritize safety for parkgoers by updating life vest stations at major boat ramps with new signage, emphasizing their importance for safe recreation on local waterways. Each year, our waterways can become hazardous, as cold fast water fed by snowmelt can quickly drop water temperatures even on hot summer days. Our community-supported life vest and information stations give families an easy, no-cost way to grab a jacket before getting in the water. A special thank you to Roseburg Rotary Club, Roseburg YMCA and local citizens for their continuing support of this life-saving program. You can find life vest stations at several of our Douglas County Parks including River Forks County Park (near Roseburg) and Cooper Creek County Park (near Sutherlin).


The Parks Department has also started installing video cameras that continuously live stream views of park areas 24 hours a day. The first of these cameras were recently installed at the boat ramp at Chief Miwaleta County Park and Campground, adjacent to Galesville Reservoir. There a live stream video camera overlooks the lake and boat ramp and provides real-time visuals for both Parks staff and the public. Visitors can check out the live stream video on the Parks Department website (https://www.douglascountyor.gov/802/Parks) and check reservoir levels and boat launch conditions from home, while staff can remotely monitor dock infrastructure when lake levels drop.


“Before the camera, our office was getting constant calls asking what the lake level looked like,” Wall said. “Now people can check the feed themselves, and we can also see if water level changes are causing any issues with the docks without having to drive all the way out there.”


These upgrades are all a part of the Douglas County Parks Departments ongoing strategic investments in our parks to improve safety, enhance visitor experience, and support outdoor recreation opportunities across our diverse park system.


The Douglas County Parks Department, a division of Douglas County Government, was established in 1949 and was the first County Park system to be developed in the state of Oregon. From the Pacific Ocean to the Cascades and throughout the 100 Valleys of the Umpqua, the Douglas County Park system encompasses 68 properties, including 23 boat ramps, 11 campgrounds and 42-day use parks. For more information, or to locate a park, campground, or boat ramp near you, visit the Douglas County Parks Department’s webpage at: https://douglascountyor.gov/802/Parks


###


Media Contact: Tamara Howell, Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist | Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov
Kai Rodriguez, Public Affairs Specialist | Douglas County Public Affairs Office | (541) 440-4493 office | (541) 391-2092 cell | kai.rodriguez@douglascountyor.gov

 

Photo 1: Life vest station at the Cooper Creek County Park East Boat Launch

 

Photo 2: Life Vest Station at the Cooper Creek County Park West Boat Launch

 

Photo 3: Chief Miwaleta County Park and Campground livesteam

 

Photo © K.Rodriguez/Douglas County Oregon

Attached Media Files: Photo1EastBoatLaunch.jpg, Photo2WestBoatLaunch.jpg, Photo3ChiefMiwaletaCountyParkLivestream.jpg,

01-22-2026 County Parks Improve Safety Through Connectivity And Infrastructure Upgrades (Photo) - 01/22/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2026

County Parks Improve Safety Through Connectivity and Infrastructure Upgrades


(Douglas County, Ore.) The Douglas County Board of Commissioners along with Douglas County Parks Department Director Mark Wall, are pleased to highlight ongoing safety and service upgrades across our park system. These improvements include Wi-Fi coverage, updated life vest stations and signage, and the addition of a camera system at the boat ramp at Chief Miwaleta County Park and Campground. The new enhancements are part of a broader effort to improve visitor safety and bring modern connectivity to our Douglas County Parks.


“The Douglas County Parks Department continues to find ways to make our parks better. These modernization and safety initiatives are their latest efforts in adding new and improved amenities to our amazing parks system.”
– Parks Liaison Commissioner Chris Boice


Over the past few years, Parks staff, through a partnership with a local internet provider, Douglas Fast Net (DFN) have worked to bring reliable Wi-Fi utilizing fiber optic cables into several high-use and historically low-cell-coverage locations. This includes Windy Cove County Park’s Loop A & B Campgrounds in Winchester Bay, Whistler's Bend County Park & Campground (near Glide), Chief Miwaleta County Park and Campground (near Azalea), Umpqua Dunes RV Park (Winchester Bay), and Charles V. Stanton County Park and Campground (near Canyonville). In many of these parks, especially Whistler’s Bend and Chief Miwaleta, where cell service is minimal or non-existent, adding Wi-Fi becomes a vital tool in the event of an emergency.


“Everyone lives in a connected world now,” explained Douglas County Parks Director Mark Wall. “In some of our remote parks, you used to have to run down the road just to search for a cell signal to call for help.” Adding Wi-Fi to these parks isn’t just an amenity, “it serves as a critical safety feature and is something that today’s customers expect.”


In addition to connectivity upgrades, Douglas County continues to prioritize safety for parkgoers by updating life vest stations at major boat ramps with new signage, emphasizing their importance for safe recreation on local waterways. Each year, our waterways can become hazardous, as cold fast water fed by snowmelt can quickly drop water temperatures even on hot summer days. Our community-supported life vest and information stations give families an easy, no-cost way to grab a jacket before getting in the water. A special thank you to Roseburg Rotary Club, Roseburg YMCA and local citizens for their continuing support of this life-saving program. You can find life vest stations at several of our Douglas County Parks including River Forks County Park (near Roseburg) and Cooper Creek County Park (near Sutherlin).


The Parks Department has also started installing video cameras that continuously live stream views of park areas 24 hours a day. The first of these cameras were recently installed at the boat ramp at Chief Miwaleta County Park and Campground, adjacent to Galesville Reservoir. There a live stream video camera overlooks the lake and boat ramp and provides real-time visuals for both Parks staff and the public. Visitors can check out the live stream video on the Parks Department website (https://www.douglascountyor.gov/802/Parks) and check reservoir levels and boat launch conditions from home, while staff can remotely monitor dock infrastructure when lake levels drop.


“Before the camera, our office was getting constant calls asking what the lake level looked like,” Wall said. “Now people can check the feed themselves, and we can also see if water level changes are causing any issues with the docks without having to drive all the way out there.”


These upgrades are all a part of the Douglas County Parks Departments ongoing strategic investments in our parks to improve safety, enhance visitor experience, and support outdoor recreation opportunities across our diverse park system.


The Douglas County Parks Department, a division of Douglas County Government, was established in 1949 and was the first County Park system to be developed in the state of Oregon. From the Pacific Ocean to the Cascades and throughout the 100 Valleys of the Umpqua, the Douglas County Park system encompasses 68 properties, including 23 boat ramps, 11 campgrounds and 42-day use parks. For more information, or to locate a park, campground, or boat ramp near you, visit the Douglas County Parks Department’s webpage at: https://douglascountyor.gov/802/Parks


###


Media Contact: Tamara Howell, Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist | Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov
Kai Rodriguez, Public Affairs Specialist | Douglas County Public Affairs Office | (541) 440-4493 office | (541) 391-2092 cell | kai.rodriguez@douglascountyor.gov

 

Photo 1: Life vest station at the Cooper Creek County Park East Boat Launch

 

Photo 2: Life Vest Station at the Cooper Creek County Park West Boat Launch

 

Photo 3: Chief Miwaleta County Park and Campground livesteam

 

Photo © K.Rodriguez/Douglas County Oregon

Attached Media Files: Photo1EastBoatLaunch.jpg, Photo2WestBoatLaunch.jpg, Photo3ChiefMiwaletaCountyParkLivestream.jpg,