Two Commissions To Meet At Oregon Heritage Conference, April 29-May 2, In Woodburn - 04/15/26

WOODBURN, Oregon – The Oregon Heritage Commission and the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries will meet in person and online during the 2026 Oregon Heritage Conference in Woodburn. Both meetings are open to the public and include an opportunity for public comment:

• Oregon Heritage Commission will meet on May 1, 9:30am, at the Woodburn Public Library, 280 Garfield Street in Woodburn and online. Business includes review and adoption of the 2026-2033 Oregon Heritage Plan, review and action on two applications for the Heritage Tradition designation (the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene and the Bandon Cranberry Festival), and a presentation from the OSU Special Collection and Archives Research Center on work related to addressing harmful content in their collections. The full agenda and meeting information can be found here.
   
• Oregon Historic Cemeteries Commission will meet on April 29, 1pm, at the Woodburn Public Library, 280 Garfield Street in Woodburn and online. Business includes a presentation on the compliance program within the State Historic Preservation Office and how cemeteries are involved in state and federal level projects and a presentation on the Shroeder Family Tomb Preservation Project. The full agenda and meeting information can be found here.

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.
 

About the Oregon Heritage Commission (OHC)

The Heritage Commission’s nine Governor appointed members represent a diversity of cultural, geographic, and institutional interests. The Commission’s nine advisory members include representatives from the Oregon State Library, Oregon State Archives, State Historical Records Advisory Board, Higher Education Coordinating Committee, Travel Oregon, Oregon Historical Society, Department of Education, State Historic Preservation Office, and the Department of Land Conservation and Development.
 

The Commission is the primary agency for coordination of heritage activities in the state. This includes carrying out the Oregon Heritage Plan, increasing efficiency and avoiding duplication among interest groups, developing plans for coordination among agencies and organizations, identifying and addressing collective challenges, encouraging tourism related to heritage resources, and coordinating statewide anniversary commemorations.
 

More information about the Oregon Heritage Commission is available online at www.oregonheritage.org and from Commission coordinator Katie Henry at 503-877-8834 or katie.henry@oprd.oregon.gov. 
 

About the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries (OCHC)

The OCHC is comprised of seven citizens. It is empowered by the Legislature to maintain a listing of all historic cemeteries in Oregon, make recommendations for funding, seek legislative appropriations for historic cemeteries, and assist in the coordination of restoration, renovation and maintenance of historic cemeteries statewide. The commission develops online resources, offers workshops, and promotes the value of historic cemeteries through storytelling.
 

The group meets four times per year in different locations around the state and online. There may be an occasional additional meeting for extra projects, programs, and grant selection. Commissioners are also asked to organize informal meetings in their regions or work on other projects outside of meeting time. Travel costs are reimbursed.
 

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 OCHC commission activities or to attend in person, contact coordinator Kuri Gill at 503-986-0685 or by e-mail at kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov.

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Road To The Summit Of Pilot Butte Opens For The Season On May 1 - 04/08/26

BEND, Oregon---The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will open the summit road at Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint to vehicle traffic starting at 10 a.m. Friday, May 1, for the 2026 season.

This year’s opening comes later than in past seasons. A contracted security service that previously handled evening park closures ended last fall, and park staff will now take on those duties. Seasonal employees who assist with closures begin work in May.

Pedestrian and bicycle access to Pilot Butte is available year-round. Only vehicle access is affected. Future improvements, including automatic gate systems, are being planned to improve efficiency and support long-term financial savings.

“Opening the road on May 1 allows us to align our operations with the staffing and resources we have available this spring,” said District Manager Dani Padilla. “Like many public agencies, we’re navigating budget constraints and working hard to operate more efficiently. Even as we run leaner, our commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable experience at Pilot Butte hasn’t changed.”

The road provides access to panoramic views of the Cascade mountains, including Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Black Butte and Mt. Hood.

Once the road opens, visitors are asked to drive slowly, stay alert, and share the road courteously. The summit route is used by walkers, runners, cyclists, and motorists, and respectful behavior helps everyone enjoy the park safely.

The road will be open from 10 a.m. to dusk, 30 minutes after sunset, daily until it closes for the season in the fall. For more information about the park, visit the webpage at https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=33.

Oregon State Parks And Recreation Commission To Meet Apr 21-22 Virtually - 04/07/26

SALEM, Oregon—The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission will convene April 21-22 for a virtual meeting.

On April 21 commissioners will hold a work session from 1-3 p.m. on operations, rulemaking and best practices.

On April 22, commissioners will convene an executive session at 8:30 a.m. virtually to discuss acquisition priorities and opportunities, and potential litigation. The Executive Session will be held pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(e) and (h) and is closed to the public.

A business meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. virtually and will be open to the public. All public commission meetings are streamed live to YouTube at https://bit.ly/oprdlive.

Anyone may attend or listen to the business meeting; instructions on how to listen will be posted on the commission web page prior to the meeting. The business meeting includes time for informal public comment not related to items on the agenda.

Registration is required to speak during the informal public comment portion. Register online at https://bit.ly/registerapr2026commission. The deadline to register to speak at the meeting virtually is 5 p.m., Apr. 20. Time per speaker is limited to three minutes. Please submit written public comments by 5 p.m. April 20 to OPRCcomment@oprd.oregon.gov.

The full agenda and supporting documents are posted on the commission web page. Notable requests:

• Request to approve grant recommendations for the following:
  • Recreational Trail Program
  • Land and Water Conservation Fund
• Request to approve construction contracts for Silver Falls North Gateway Visitor Center.
• Consideration of a petition to open rulemaking regarding extra vehicle fees for motorhomes. The public is invited to comment on whether rules should be changed to allow visitors with a motorhome to bring one additional vehicle at no charge. Currently fees are only waived if the vehicle is towed in along with the motorhome.
• Request to approve adoption of proposed amendment to rules regarding operations of unmanned aircraft systems in state parks and along the ocean shore.
• Request to open rules for proposed changes to public works procurement and land and water conservation fund grants.

Anyone needing special accommodations to attend the meeting should contact Denise Warburton, commission assistant, at least three days in advance at denise.warburton@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-779-9729.

The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission promotes outdoor recreation and heritage by establishing policies, adopting rules and setting the budget for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The seven members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. They serve four-year terms and meet several times a year at locations across the state.

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Jessie M. Honeyman State Park Monument Damaged By Vandalism (Photo) - 04/03/26

Florence, Oregon—A bronze monument dedicated in honor of state park namesake Jessie Honeyman was damaged last month. The monument located near the Cleawox Day-use parking area was vandalized in an apparent attempted theft between Monday evening, March 2 and Tuesday morning March 3. The monument’s structure appeared to be knocked over and cut in two places, resulting in significant damage.

The bronze “Eye of the Needle” monument was dedicated to honor Jessie M. Honeyman in 1986, recognizing her tireless advocacy for Oregon’s natural resources and scenery along the state’s highways. The statue sculpted by Gordon Newell is a registered art piece with the Smithsonian.

Park staff have removed the monument for public safety and to prevent further harm as they evaluate the extent of the damage and develop a plan for repairs. At this time, there is no established timeline for the monument’s repair or reinstallation.

The department asks that anyone with information regarding this incident contact the Oregon State Police, referencing case number SP26072324. Community assistance is appreciated to help protect Oregon's special places.

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National Cultural Heritage Leader Monica Rhodes To Keynote Upcoming Conference (Photo) - 04/02/26

SALEM, Oregon – Oregon Heritage is pleased to announce that internationally recognized cultural heritage leader Monica Rhodes will deliver a keynote address on April 29^th at the upcoming Oregon Heritage Conference, inviting attendees to explore how preservation must evolve to meet the challenges of the future.

Rhodes, Founder of Rhodes Heritage Group, is widely known for advancing new approaches to cultural preservation at the intersection of people, place, and capital. Her work has influenced national policy, expanded access to preservation practice, and engaged millions in reimagining how history shapes the future.

Her keynote, “The Next Assignment: Why the Future Will Ask More of Us,” will challenge attendees to reconsider traditional approaches to preservation in an era shaped by artificial intelligence, climate instability, and growing public demand for complete storytelling. “We are entering unfamiliar futurescapes where the past is unstable, contested, and uncertain,” Rhodes notes.

A Rome Prize Fellow and Harvard Loeb Fellow, Rhodes has advised the White House on cultural heritage policy and serves on the board of the International Council on Monuments and Sites. Her work has been featured in national media outlets including The Washington Post, PBS NewsHour, This Old House, and Architectural Digest.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from Rhodes and engage with forward-looking ideas that connect historic preservation to civic innovation, community voice, and long-term resilience. Registration for the conference is now open. Registration is available to see Monica Rhodes only or to attend other conference sessions as well. To learn more and register to attend, visit Oregon Heritage Conference 2026.

Final State Recreational Trails Plan Approved - 04/01/26

SALEM, Oregon— At their February meeting, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission approved the final 2026 Oregon Recreational Trails Plan, which outlines trends and issues, creates priorities for grant funding and recommends actions to improve trails on public land in Oregon over the next 10 years.

To support implementation of the Trails Plan, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department also developed a new technical resources website for recreation and trail planning: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/BWT/Pages/Technical-Resources-for-Recreation-Planning.aspx

“We appreciate the time and energy trail users and partners have put into helping us develop the next trails plan, which will guide investments to make our trails even better in the future,” said Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Statewide Trails Planner Jessica Horning.

“Each year, more than 80% of Oregonians use trails across the state, generating over $890 million in spending at local businesses and contributing to Oregon’s overall economy.”

The Oregon Recreational Trails Plan covers non-motorized trails (hiking, biking, equestrian), motorized ATV trails, snowmobile trails, and non-motorized boating and water trails. It helps provide guidance to not only Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, but to federal, state and local agencies as well as private sector partners.

Information for the plan came from multiple sources including statewide surveys of trail users and recreation providers conducted in October 2024 and April 2025, multiple focus groups with specific user groups, workshops at the 2024 and 2025 Oregon Outdoor Recreation Summit, and the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), which is published every five years.

With commission approval of the 2026 Plan, State Parks staff will update Recreational Trails Program and ATV Grant criteria to be consistent with the plan. Updated grant criteria will be applied to both grant program’s next solicitations in Fall 2026.

For questions about the draft Oregon Trails Plan, please visit our website or contact OPRD Statewide Trails Planner Jessica Horning at Jessica.r.horning@oprd.oregon.gov.  

New Rule Advisory Committee To Discuss Updates To The County Opportunity Grant Program Rules - 03/30/26

SALEM, Oregon— A new Rule Advisory Committee (RAC) will review proposed updates to the County Opportunity Grant Program (COGP) rules and provide feedback on draft rule changes.

The Rule Advisory Committee will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, April 13. The public can watch the livestream on the OPRD Director’s Office channel on YouTube. A recording will be available after the meeting.

The Rule Advisory Committee includes representatives from local governments, recreation providers and other stakeholders with experience in park and recreation planning, development and management.

Staff will incorporate the committee's feedback into the proposed draft rules and then open them for public comment. Following the public comment period and hearing, staff will present the proposed rules to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission for consideration of adoption.

The County Opportunity Grant Program (COGP), administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), provides financial assistance to counties for the acquisition, development, rehabilitation and planning of county park and recreation areas that provide camping facilities.

OPRD is proposing updates to portions of the rules to reflect modern program practices, improve administrative clarity and ensure consistency with related state and federal grant programs.

The proposed changes include updating definitions, formalizing administrative processes, clarifying grant application requirements and scoring criteria, and increasing administrative flexibility. The proposal also includes adding an emergency procedure rule and a conversion rule to establish long-term stewardship requirements that align COGP with other OPRD grant programs.

The proposed rule changes are intended to update and clarify grant program practices without altering the core purpose or structure of the program.

Interested individuals can follow updates, read the draft rules, and learn more about the rulemaking process on the OPRD rulemaking webpage found here.

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Oregon Black Pioneers’ Exhibit Runs April 1st Through May 31st At The Moiser Twin Tunnels Visitor Center - 03/24/26

HOOD RIVER, Oregon— Visitors to the visitor center at the Mosier Twin Tunnels within the Historic  Columbia River Highway State Trail can learn about Black Pioneers and early Black history in Oregon at an exhibit that runs through May.

Oregon State Parks partnered with Oregon Black Pioneers to bring the traveling exhibit to the Moiser Twin Tunnels visitor center in the Columbia River Gorge. The visitor center is open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"We are excited to host the Oregon Black Pioneers exhibit at the Mosier Twin Tunnels Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead Visitor Center. These stories are an essential part of Oregon’s history, and it is our responsibility to ensure they are visible, accessible, and honored. At Oregon State Parks’ Gorge Management Unit, we are committed to uplifting underserved voices and removing barriers that have historically limited access to these narratives,” said Park Manager Jami LeAnne.

“By bringing this exhibit to a public space, we hope to create meaningful opportunities for all visitors to connect with, learn from, and reflect on the diverse experiences that have shaped this region."

The exhibit features eight interpretive panels that highlight just a few of the approximately 400 Black residents who came to Oregon from 1840 to 1870. What little is known came from newspaper articles and public records. Topics include the Oregon Trail, Black exclusion, slavery in Oregon, challenging the laws and land ownership.

The traveling exhibit was created by Oregon Black Pioneers, an African American historical organization that has been preserving the history of Black Oregonians for more than 30 years.

“People of African descent are often left out of the stories of early Oregon," said Oregon Black Pioneers' Executive Director Zachary Stocks, "but this exhibit demonstrates the determination of the first Black men and women to call Oregon home."

People can also view the exhibit online at https://oregonblackpioneers.org/exhibit/the-black-pioneers/ If you are interested in hosting this or other traveling exhibits or would like more information on other resources and services, please reach out to the Oregon Black Pioneers at their website https://oregonblackpioneers.org/

The Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail comprises three disconnected paved paths along stretches of historic Highway 30, which predated I-84 as the only road connecting Portland and The Dalles. Together, the segments offer 12-plus miles of thrilling scenery and spectacular geologic formations. https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=113

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Cherry Blossoms Illuminated At State Capitol State Park March 21 Through April 4 (Photo) - 03/17/26

SALEM, Ore.—Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will host “Yozakura,” night viewing of the Akebono cherry blossoms, March 21 through April 4 in the North Mall at State Capitol State Park.

The cherry blossoms will be illuminated with Japanese lanterns and lights nightly from 6-10 p.m. Visitors may bring blankets, camping chairs, or an evening picnic to enjoy under the canopy of the illuminated trees.

The lanterns and lights create a striking and beautiful scene inside the park at night.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will livestream the cherry blossoms on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OregonParks beginning March 21 during the day and evening through April 4.

Park staff ask that tree limbs and blossoms are left as is so everyone can view them throughout the bloom. Alcohol is not allowed in State Capitol State Park (without permits) and the park closes at 10 p.m.

For more information on events at the Capitol, call Visitor Services at 503-986-1388 or visit the events page.

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