Advisory Committee To Discuss Proposed Rules For ATV Sound And Safety Equipment -07/10/25

SALEM, Oregon—Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is creating a rulemaking advisory committee to discuss possible changes to sound and equipment standards to All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) use on public lands in Oregon.

House Bill 2232 was signed on March 19, 2025 and became effective upon passage. The bill transfers rulemaking responsibility for ATV safety equipment and noise emissions from Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD).

State parks has temporarily adopted ODOT and DEQ’s rules for 180 days under ORS 183.335(5)(a). OPRD is in the process of reviewing the previous rules and developing permanent rules.

The current rules on noise emissions vary by type of vehicle. Requests have been made for a reduced sound limit in Oregon.

Many states use 96 dBA (decibels measured using the A-weighting scale) tested at 20 inches from the exhaust at a 45-degree angle at half RPM (revolutions per minute).

The proposed changes would update definitions for ATVs and look at other safety equipment standards. The committee will meet online 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2025 to review and discuss the proposed rule changes. The meetings are open to the public and can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/@oprddirectorsoffice5783/streams

The meeting agenda will include discussions to review sound levels and flag requirements to be consistent with other states. Committee members, appointed by OPRD, include individuals from around the state who are members of the off-road community, law enforcement, land managers and impacted neighbors.

After the committee reviews the proposed changes and staff make updates based on feedback and recommendations, the proposed rule will be open for public comment in August 2025. More information about this rulemaking is available on the OPRD website:  https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx

Individuals who require special accommodations to view the meetings should contact Ian Caldwell, at least three days in advance of a meeting at ian.caldwell@oprd.oregon.gov

Historic Cemeteries Commission Meets July 24 -07/10/25

The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries (OCHC) will meet in Grand Ronde at the Chachalu Museum and Cultural Center, and via online meeting on July 24 at 9:00 a.m. The agenda includes discussion of the National Register of Historic Places and a presentation on the 2024 historic cemeteries grant projects. The meeting is open to the public and the agenda includes an opportunity for public comment. Meeting information is on the agenda or you can follow this link to register for online access information.

State law established the seven-member 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. For more information about commission activities, contact coordinator Kuri Gill at 503-986-0685 or by e-mail at kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov.
 

Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling (503) 986‐0609 or Kimberly.Spivey@oprd.oregon.gov at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting. For call-in details and the agenda or more information about the commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org.

Local Government Grant Advisory Committee To Review Grant Applications July 29-31 -07/09/25

SALEM, Oregon—The Local Government Grant Program Advisory Committee will hold public meetings to review grant applications 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 29, 30 and 31.  

The meetings will be held at the Best Western Plus, Mill Creek Inn, 3125 Ryan Dr. SE, Salem, OR 97301.  The meetings can also be viewed via Zoom.

Applicants to the Local Government Grant Program (LGGP) will present their proposed projects for acquiring, planning, developing and rehabilitating outdoor recreation facilities. The committee will evaluate and score all applications and create a priority ranking list of projects to be funded. The list will be forwarded to the Oregon State

Parks and Recreation Commission for final review and approval.

A schedule listing applicants and their specific presentation times is posted on the Local Government Grant Program web page at https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/pages/GRA-lggp.aspx#2 . A link to view the Zoom meeting will also be posted at the site.

The LGGP Advisory Committee consists of ten members who represent cities, counties, park and recreation districts, port districts, people with disabilities and the general public. They also represent various geographic areas of the state. 

The LGGP was established in 1999 to direct a portion of state lottery revenue to award grants to eligible applicants for outdoor park and recreation projects. The program is administered by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). 

For more information about the LGGP, visit oprdgrants.org.

South Beach To Host Annual Sandcastle Competition In Newport July 26 (Photo) -07/08/25

NEWPORT, Oregon— South Beach State Park will host its annual sandcastle competition 10 a.m. to noon July 26 in Newport.

Anyone can compete as an individual or as a team for a chance to win first, second or third place. Prizes include baskets with an assortment of beach-themed prizes with the first-place basket stocked with four tickets to the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Visitors interested in competing can sign up in person starting at 9:30 a.m. July 26 on the beach next to the South Beach day-use parking lot.

"It's a great opportunity for visitors to share their sand sculpting skills and connect with park volunteers and rangers," said Ranger Patrick Newhall.

Last year, 20 teams with a total of 65 competitors vied for the top spots. And as many as 190 visitors watched the sandcastles take shape.

For more information, please contact South Beach State Park at (541) 867-7451 Ext. 0.  

National Park Service Lists BPA Salem Substation In Salem, Polk County In The National Register Of Historic Places (Photo) -07/07/25

SALEM, Ore. – The Salem Substation Historic District is among Oregon’s latest additions to the National Register of Historic Places. Recommended for listing by the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) at its February 2025 meeting, the substation is recognized for its significance as an integral component of the Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) Master Grid Development period (1938-1945). Furthermore, the substation’s Control House is individually recognized as an outstanding example of the Streamline Moderne architectural style. The National Park Service, which maintains the National Register of Historic Places, listed the substation in spring 2025.

Located on the Dallas Highway (OR 22) in Salem, Polk County, the district includes six built resources, three of which are contributing: the Control House, Switchyard, and Transfer Track. The Control House, completed in 1942, exemplifies the Streamline Moderne architectural style with its smooth surfaces, rounded edges, and use of aluminum, stucco, and chrome. It is one of the few remaining examples of this architectural style that was used by BPA during its Master Grid Development period. As a unit, the district was pivotal in distributing hydroelectric power from the Columbia River dams to rural communities and industrial operations in the Willamette Valley during World War II, fulfilling the increasing energy demands of the era. To explore historic images of the substation and its architectural features, visit the Salem Substation photo collection at river.bpa.gov/portals/Salem-Substation-OR.

The National Register is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Properties listed in the National Register are:

• Recognized as significant to the nation, state, or community;
• Considered in the planning of federal or federally-assisted projects;
• Eligible for federal tax benefits;
• Qualify for historic preservation grants when funds are available;
• Eligible for leniency in meeting certain building code requirements;
• Subject to local laws pertaining to the conservation and protection of historic resources.
   

State law in Oregon requires local governments to offer a minimal level of protection for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places; the decisions about how to accomplish that goal reside with local governments, which also have the authority to create and regulate local historic districts and landmarks.

More information about the National Register and recent Oregon listings are online at oregonheritage.org (under the heading “Designate”).

2025 Grants Awarded To Historic Property And Archaeology Projects Across The State (Photo) -07/07/25

Oregon Heritage, a division of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, awarded 20 grants totaling $300,000 for historic properties and archaeology projects. Six of the grants were awarded in the Diamonds in the Rough category. This grant funds façade enhancements that restore the historic character of the property. The other 14 grants were in the Preserving Oregon category for properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places and for archaeology projects.

Funded projects:

• Façade restoration grants in Burns, Lebanon, Malin, Portland, Roseburg, and Salem.
• One archaeology project:
  • Southern Oregon University for a study to develop a plastic identification tool.
• Preservation of 13 historic properties:
  • Kraus House, Aurora Colony Historical Society
  • Antelope School, Antelope
  • Marshfield Cemetery, Coos Bay
  • Madras Army Airfield North Hangar, Madras
  • City of Talent Town Hall, Talent
  • Train Depot, Wasco
  • Columbia County Courthouse, St. Helens
  • Fogelbo House, Portland
  • Bush House, Salem
  • Petersen Farm House, Deschutes County
  • Tillamook Air Museum, Tillamook
  • EM&M Building, Enterprise
  • Weissenfels Blacksmith Shop, Mt.Angel

These grants are approved by the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation, a nine-member group that reviews nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. The members are professionally recognized in the fields of history, architecture, archaeology and other related disciplines.

For more information about the grant program, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at Kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

Applications For Oregon Heritage MentorCorps Assistance Now Open -07/01/25

SALEM, Oregon –  Applications open today for heritage organizations statewide to apply for free technical assistance from the Oregon Heritage MentorCorps. Organizations applying to this program address priority projects or pitfalls with the guidance and support of volunteer professionals. The mentors have backgrounds spanning the heritage spectrum including to museums and collections management, curatorship, archives, preservation, non-profit management, disaster preparedness, planning, prioritization, heritage interpretation,  volunteer coordination, and more.

The role of MentorCorps is to help museums, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions navigate through challenges as well as supplement the expertise of staff and volunteers during one-on-one sessions over a period of nine months. Common requests for assistance include:

• guidance in work planning,
• grant reviews, collections assessments,
• policy development, or
• prioritization of work

With mentors that are geographically and technically diverse, we provide services statewide both virtually and in person.

“Improving practices incrementally with a nonjudgmental approach is key,” says Cam Amabile, Technical Resources Coordinator and MentorCorps Coordinator for Oregon Heritage. “Mentors know that achieving ‘best practices’ takes capacity in time, expertise, and finances, which are limited commodities in small organizations. We are there to provide resourceful, achievable, and realistic pathways forward to implementing local plans or actions all led by the applicant organization.”

MentorCorps began as a pilot program funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services more than a decade ago. Today, it is a fully actualized technical assistance program of that supports the “Pursue Best Practices” goal of the 2020-2025 Oregon Heritage Plan. This service is offered free to any heritage organization operating within the state of Oregon, but primarily serves museums, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions. Applications open July 1, 2025 and close on August 15, 2025 for the 2025-2026 assistance year. Organizations can reach out to Oregon Heritage Technical Resources Coordinator, Cam Amabile with questions about projects or applications at 971-720-8998 or cam.amabile@oprd.oregon.gov.

Seeking Public Comment On Proposed Changes To Special Assessment Of Historic Properties Rules -07/01/25

New E-bike Rules Begin July 1 At Oregon State Parks And The Ocean Shore (Photo) -07/01/25

SALEM, Oregon—Electric-assist bicycles (e-bikes) are now allowed on trails where other bicycles are allowed unless specifically prohibited at Oregon State Parks. 

E-bikes are also allowed on the ocean shore on wet sand except where specifically restricted.

Previously, e-bikes were only allowed on trails that were at least 8 feet wide. Signs will be posted on trails and areas where e-bikes are not allowed, and the trails and areas will be listed on the Oregon State Parks website.  

Where e-bikes are not allowed:

• On the dry sand along the ocean shore, including soft sand, dunes and everything above the natural high-tide line
• On the wet sand below the natural high-tide line in snowy plover habitat on the ocean shore during nesting season (March 15 to Sept. 15).
• Elijah Bristow State Park (all trails)
• Willamette Mission State Park (all equestrian trails and the Vision Trail)
• Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site (Riverside Trail)
• Emigrant Springs State Natural Area (Lewis and Clark Trail)

The updated rules also include stronger and clearer language on safety, particularly operation around other visitors, pets, children and equestrians.  

“We ask that all riders ride responsibly, stay on designated trails and yield to others at Oregon State Parks and the ocean shore. Please keep operating speeds low as people might not be aware that riders are approaching. These are multi-use pathways where they will share the trail with many other users,” said Aaron Raines, park manager at Stub Stewart State Park.  

The rules apply to Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes as defined by the Oregon State Legislature. Anything not included in those e-bike classifications is considered a motor vehicle and is not allowed on trails.  

E-bike classification: 

• Class 1: Provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 mph. 

• Class 2: May be propelled by its motor without a rider pedaling and ceases to provide assistance once the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 mph. 

• Class 3: Provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 mph, and is equipped with a speedometer. 

While education remains the primary focus for rule enforcement at Oregon State Parks, enforcement rangers do have the authority to issue citations, which carry fines starting at $100 for significant or repeated violations of park rules.  

Safety tips for sharing the path:  

• Yield to pedestrians, horses and slower users  

• Announce yourself when passing (“On your left”)  

• Ride at a safe, controlled speed, especially on corners or in high-use areas  

• Slow down near pets, children and equestrians  

• Stay on designated trails: do not ride off-trail  

• Be prepared to stop: e-bikes are heavier and often faster than regular bikes so increase your following distance to allow for more time to stop and slow down. 

For more information and a list of trails where e-bikes are prohibited, visit Oregon State Parks website at https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.page&id=131

Commission Approves Out-of-state Fees, Beach Driving Restrictions In Manzanita (Photo) -06/25/25

INDEPENDENCE, Oregon— The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission approved out-of-state fees for parking permits, beach driving restrictions in Manzanita and a small land purchase near Silver Falls at its meeting in Independence June 18.

The beach driving restriction was requested by Manzanita City Council due to concerns about public safety with increased visitation and ecosystem preservation. There was a public comment process, then the closure was reviewed by the commission, Manzanita City Council and Tillamook County Commission.

Previously, the ocean shore near Manzanita was open to vehicles 7 a.m. to noon from October 1 to April 30. The approved closure will eliminate that open period, but individuals who need to launch boats can still access the ocean shore by permit.

In other business, the commission approved:

• Updating (OAR 736-015-0030) to expand the 25% out-of-state surcharge to parking permit fees for visitors who do not live in Oregon. The approved surcharge will increase daily parking permit fees by $2 for out-of-state visitors starting July 1, 2025. The 12-month permit will be $7 more for out-of-state visitors and the 24-month permit will be $12 more for out-of-state visitors.
• Starting rulemaking for implementation prior to House Bill 3190, which reauthorizes the Special Assessment of Historic Properties program as a 10-year benefit for commercial, income-producing historic properties.
• Starting rulemaking to implement changes to procurement and contracting included in SB 838B, which will provide OPRD a limited exemption from the state’s Public Contracting Code— to better serve park visitors and support local businesses based on the agency’s 24/7 operations schedule. The exemption does not apply to surplus property, information technology, photogrammetric mapping or telecommunications.
• Purchasing a 37-acre parcel of property next to Silver Falls State Park for $960,000. The land could provide needed staff housing, emergency response access and is located near the future Visitor Center near North Falls, which would provide easy access for staff.

Outgoing commissioner Vicki Berger was recognized for her eight years of service to Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the state of Oregon. Retiring Oregon Parks and Recreation Department staff members Chrissy Curran, Rebecca Jasso and Alice Beals also received appreciation for their dedication and contributions. This was the first meeting for new commissioners Stu Spence and Dave Parulo. Their terms expire May 2029.

The full agenda with documents are available on the commission website and a recording of the meeting is available on the OPRD Director’s Office YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE3ov5VnFKY

Public Invited To Comment On A Federal Grant Award In Bend -06/24/25

The City of Bend has received a grant through the federal Historic Preservation Fund, administered by Oregon State Historic Preservation Office to fund the following local preservation projects.
 

City of Bend
505 NW Florida Ave
$2500

Repair 9 historic windows and removable storm windows.
 

This notice serves to make the public aware of the projects and solicit comments pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The comment period is open for 30 days from the date of this announcement. To provide comments or learn more information about this project visit the federal grant public comment section of our website or contact Kuri Gill at Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.
 

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 authorizes a program of federal matching grants, known as the Historic Preservation Fund, to assist the various states in carrying out historic preservation activities. The Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and in Oregon, is administered through the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. For information about the grants contact Kuri Gill at 503-986-0685 or by e-mail: Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov.

Fireworks Are Prohibited At Oregon State Parks, The Ocean Shore (Photo) -06/23/25

SALEM, Oregon— Oregon State Parks welcomes Fourth of July celebrations, but fireworks and explosives are strictly prohibited within Oregon State Parks and the entire ocean shore.

Park staff encourage visitors to celebrate responsibly this Fourth of July and leave fireworks at home when visiting Oregon State Parks and Oregon beaches. These items pose a significant danger to visitors, wildlife, structures and the natural landscape particularly in crowded areas where high winds and flammable vegetation increase the inherent risks of fireworks. Parks are often in remote locations that are challenging to evacuate and might take emergency responders time to reach.

The wildfire season has already begun in Oregon, and three state parks have been closed or evacuated due to wildfires nearby in the last few weeks. Fireworks and explosives would increase the risk of additional fires.

Fireworks also impact sensitive habitat like federally protected Western snowy plover nesting grounds and other coastal birds and marine wildlife.

“The lights and noise from fireworks can cause birds and other wildlife to startle and flee in panic. On the coast this can result in the abandonment of nests, leaving eggs or young vulnerable to predators like crows, ravens or gulls,” said Dawn Harris, visitor services manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Litter from firecrackers, bottle rockets and other explosives spread debris on beaches, which can be choking hazards for wildlife and may be toxic if ingested.”

After last year’s Fourth of July celebrations, volunteers collected nearly 1,000 pounds of trash from the beaches around Lincoln City alone. Fireworks debris was the third most collected item. Another 640 pounds of trash was collected in barrels.

“That debris directly impacts the ecological resilience of our beaches, oceans and wildlife,” said Laurel Hillman, ocean shore resource coordinator at Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

“We ask that visitors respect the restrictions on fireworks and explosives to protect Oregon State Parks and the ocean shore.”

While education remains the primary focus for rule enforcement at Oregon State Parks, enforcement rangers do have the authority to issue Class A violations, which carry a presumptive fine of up to $400, for significant or repeated violations of park rules. Staff at Oregon State Parks ask that visitors enjoy the holiday responsibly and leave fireworks and explosives at home.

For events at Oregon State Parks including several Fourth of July celebrations, find the event calendar at https://stateparks.oregon.gov. We also encourage visitors to know before they go when it comes to campfire restrictions and any closures during this wildfire season. Learn more on our website.

Nehalem Bay State Park To Open Camping Reservations For This Summer (Photo) -06/23/25

NEHALEM BAY, Oregon— Nehalem Bay State Park will reopen most of its campground July 1 after a seven-month construction closure. Reservations will be available starting 6 a.m. Friday.

“We’re excited to welcome visitors back to the campground in time for the Fourth of July holiday,’ said Park Manager Ben Cox.

The park closed reservations through December to create a buffer for any delays in construction. The day-use area opened in May, and most of the campground will open July 1, including Loops D, E, F, hiker/biker and horse camp. Loops A, B, C will open in about a month to give crews enough time to finish a roof and accessibility improvements for the yurts.

Visitors will notice a few of the improvements when they return to the campgrounds, but most of upgrades, like new electrical and water lines, enhance the visitor experience behind the scenes.

The work included:

• Upgrading water and electrical lines within the camp loops
• Adding a restroom/shower building to serve increasing visitation and provide more accessible facilities (adult changing table for visitors with disabilities)
• Adding an accessible restroom and accessible campsites to the horse camp.
• Adding hose bibs to horse camp sites.
• Renovating and adding additional accessible campsites and paths
• Repaving the main entrance road
• Adding traffic calming features to the park entry road from the Garey Street entrance to the airport intersection.
• Adding a new day-use fee station near the airport intersection

The work at Nehalem Bay was made possible by GO Bonds, a $50 million investment approved by the Oregon State Legislature in 2021. It’s one of nine projects at eight parks focused on building capacity, increasing accessibility and maintaining aging park infrastructure. Visit the Go Bond website for a complete list of projects.

Nehalem Bay State Park To Open Camping Reservations For This Summer (Photo) -06/23/25

NEHALEM BAY, Oregon— Nehalem Bay State Park will reopen most of its campground July 1 after a seven-month construction closure. Reservations will be available starting 6 a.m. Friday.

“We’re excited to welcome visitors back to the campground in time for the Fourth of July holiday,’ said Park Manager Ben Cox.

The park closed reservations through December to create a buffer for any delays in construction. The day-use area opened in May, and most of the campground will open July 1, including Loops D, E, F, hiker/biker and horse camp. Loops A, B, C will open in about a month to give crews enough time to finish a roof and accessibility improvements for the yurts.

Visitors will notice a few of the improvements when they return to the campgrounds, but most of upgrades, like new electrical and water lines, enhance the visitor experience behind the scenes.

The work included:

• Upgrading water and electrical lines within the camp loops
• Adding a restroom/shower building to serve increasing visitation and provide more accessible facilities (adult changing table for visitors with disabilities)
• Adding an accessible restroom and accessible campsites to the horse camp.
• Adding hose bibs to horse camp sites.
• Renovating and adding additional accessible campsites and paths
• Repaving the main entrance road
• Adding traffic calming features to the park entry road from the Garey Street entrance to the airport intersection.
• Adding a new day-use fee station near the airport intersection

The work at Nehalem Bay was made possible by GO Bonds, a $50 million investment approved by the Oregon State Legislature in 2021. It’s one of nine projects at eight parks focused on building capacity, increasing accessibility and maintaining aging park infrastructure. Visit the Go Bond website for a complete list of projects.

Rangers Prepare Oregon State Parks For Busy Summer Camping Season (Photo) -06/17/25

SALEM, Oregon— SALEM, Oregon— This weekend kicks off the official summer camping season, but the work to prepare Oregon’s more than 250 state parks and campgrounds has been going all year long.

Behind the scenes, park rangers have moved mountains of sand, cleared thousands of downed trees and repaired roofs, bridges and trails around the state to keep

parks well maintained and ready for visitors.

Visitors might think that parks stay pristine because they look just like they did last year, but maintaining beautiful landscapes in some of Oregon’s harshest climates takes some work:

• Cape Lookout State Park cleared more than 1.5 million pounds of sand after winter winds buried one camp loop in six-inch drifts. The park is not alone. Many coastal parks must dig out campsites, sidewalks and parking lots after the winter season.
   
• Devil’s Lake State Recreation Area removed a dump truck load of slime, algae, branches, leaves and trash, which coated the campground when lake water receded. The lake floods every year, and rangers clean up the muck left behind.
   
• In the Mountain Region and other areas where it freezes, rangers reinstall plumbing components and restart the plumbing to the campgrounds, buildings and picnic shelters, which includes restarting water to thousands of campsite spigots.
   
• At Fall Creek State Recreation Area east of Eugene, rangers cleared eight dump truck loads of fir needles, cones, branches and debris to make the roads passable at Winberry Park when it reopened this spring.
   
• Nehalem Bay State Park cleared nearly 180 downed trees in one winter storm alone. Parks across the state repaired winter storm damage, including clearing downed trees, repairing roads, fixing roofs and mending bridges. 
   
• In the Columbia River Gorge, parks cleared thousands of pounds of woody debris from paved trails. They created chips from the debris and spread it around trees and shrubs.

Overall, Oregon State Parks rangers spend nearly 800,000 hours a year cleaning bathrooms, building and repairing trails and bridges, fixing old and new pipes and wiring, keeping parks safe, preserving Oregon’s history and natural resources and sharing knowledge on everything from mushrooms to the night sky.

“Rangers work tirelessly to keep these landscapes beautiful and accessible for the approximately 56 million visits each year at Oregon State Parks. We’re thankful for the work they do every day,” said Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.

Oregon State Parks welcome as many as 17,000 guests on the busiest nights, which means moving a city roughly the size of Canby in and out of campgrounds on almost a daily basis statewide.

“Oregon State Parks are like small cities. They run sewer, water and electrical systems; maintain roads and structures, all while managing campgrounds. When one system goes down, our staff manage the necessary emergency repairs to keep parks open. I’m proud of the work they do to keep parks safe, welcoming and ready for everyone to enjoy,” said Oregon Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Sumption.

Help rangers this season by following all safety signs and barriers; staying on trail and checking campfire restrictions in advance at stateparks.oregon.gov. Interested in what rangers do? Check out the Oregon State Parks episode of “Odd Jobs” by SAIF Corporation at https://youtu.be/NUqCmEe38Uw?feature=shared or the Join Us page on the website: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=get-involved.jobs

Partial Closure At Pilot Butte State Park July 1-5 For Fireworks Preparation, Show (Photo) -06/17/25

BEND, Oregon— Pilot Butte State Park will experience partial closures July 1-5 in preparation for the Fourth of July fireworks display, which is held 10 p.m. Friday, July 4. 

Please observe the following closures and restrictions:

• Vehicle traffic: The access road to the summit will be closed to all vehicle traffic from 10 p.m. July 1 to the afternoon of July 5.
• Pedestrians: Trails and roadways will be accessible to pedestrians only July 1-3 and closed entirely for all July 4. Trails will reopen the afternoon of July 5. The summit will be closed to all but authorized personnel July 1 to July 5 (afternoon).
• All: Access to all trails and roadways will be closed on July 4 through the afternoon of July 5. No access will be permitted. Security and law enforcement will be on site to enforce restrictions. This is for everyone’s safety and security.

The park will reopen to all when the clean-up process has been completed on the afternoon of July 5.  Please respect the closed areas for your safety and the safety of those working to set up the fireworks. Visitors will not be allowed into the closed areas at any time.

The main parking area at the base of Pilot Butte, off Linnea Drive, will be open during the fireworks show. Please do not block any emergency access roads or public/private streets as this can delay a response to an emergency. Oregon State Parks and Bend Fire & Rescue remind everyone that pets are not permitted in the park during the show.

The fireworks show is presented each year as a gift to the community from Subaru of Bend and their partners. Local Scout troops help clean up the fireworks each year after the show.

“I want to give a huge thank you Bend Fire & Rescue and the U.S. Forest Service & Oregon Department of Forestry for assisting with the fire safety on the butte during the show. Without their support each year, this show would not be possible,” said Park Manager Brian Vaughan.

For more information, please contact Oregon State Parks at (541) 388-6055 or Bend Fire & Rescue at (541) 322-6386

Silver Falls State Park Reopens Camping Reservations For This Summer (Photo) -06/16/25

SILVERTON, Oregon— Silver Falls State Park is now accepting camping reservations for stays June 18 through Sept. 30. The campground reopened early after a nine-month construction closure.

All tent and RV campsites in addition to cabins 19, 21, 23 and 24 are now reservable online for stays June 18 through Sept. 30. Typically, camping reservations are released six months in advance, but these sites were held back due to planned construction. (Cabins 1-10 remained open through construction.)

Campers will return to a new accessible restroom/shower building with adult changing tables in the B-Loop and new pavement in A-Loop as part of the construction work.

“We’re excited to welcome campers back to Silver Falls State Park. We appreciate their patience as we worked to improve the park experience for everyone,” said Silver Falls Park Manager Chris Gilliand.

In addition to the Silver Falls State Park campsites and cabins reopening, the Smith Creek Village is now accepting reservations again through a new concessionaire. The South Falls Café and 10 Falls Supply Co. are now open daily, and the Bigleaf Market & Grill at Smith Creek Village will open soon. You can find more information about the restaurant, dining area, and lodging including 13 cabins, four group lodges and two ranches at https://visitsilverfalls.com/