BEVERLY BEACH, Ore. - Repair work is scheduled for June 27 on the bridge spanning Spencer Creek at the campground entrance to Beverly Beach State Park. Work will occur 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The repairs are required to keep the bridge in compliance with Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) standards.
Workers will be grinding down asphalt as part of the repair process. Campground users should expect some construction noise as a result. The grinding is expected to persist for the entire construction window, but will conclude by 2 p.m.
ODOT will have flaggers to control traffic near the bridge work site. Expect short delays if you are traveling to or from the campground during construction times.
Park staff ask that all incoming campers respect the 4 p.m. check-in time that day to help eliminate extra congestion.
The June 27 work is the first phase of a larger construction project at the park. Future phases will be communicated as soon as details are available. The project will be completed by end of summer.
For more information, call the Beverly Beach State Park office 541-265-4560.
Oregon Heritage Commission has awarded nearly $60,000 in grants to nine museums throughout the state. The grants will help fund a variety of projects including collection preservation, visitor education and heritage tourism. Award amounts ranged $4,500 - $8,000.
Funded projects:
- Clackamas County Historical Society, in Oregon City, for collections inventory and shelving at the Stevens Crawford House.
- Deschutes County Historical Society, in Bend, for the “Cruisin’ 97” exhibit and geotagging tourism project.
- Fort Rock Valley Historical Society and Homestead Museum for repairing the Belltable Home at Fort Rock museum complex.
- High Desert Museum, near Bend, for the “By Her Hand” exhibit, and other historic and contemporary indigenous art.
- Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum, in Government Camp, to organize and digitize a historic photograph collection.
- Oregon Jewish Museum, in Portland, to place online finding aids that link to the museum’s object collection.
- Oregon Nikkei Endowment, in Portland, to preserve the WWII Minidoka Incarceration Site collection at the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center.
- Umatilla County Historical Society, in Pendleton, to install the “Umatilla Gold: The History of Wheat in Umatilla County” exhibit.
- Willamette Heritage Center, in Salem, to preserve and create a finding aid for over 800 plans created by architectural firm Payne, Settecase and Smith.
The museum grant program is offered annually by the Oregon Heritage Commission, part of the Oregon Heritage program at Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). The grant program began in 1965 when only 24 organizations were eligible for the program.
The Oregon Heritage Commission works to secure, sustain and enhance Oregon’s heritage. The Commission sponsors heritage initiatives that educate the public about the value of heritage and celebrate the state’s diversity.
The Oregon Heritage Commission consists of nine members appointed by the governor and nine agency advisors. Members are chosen from state agencies and statewide organizations, and represent a diverse geographical and heritage background.
To learn more about the Oregon Museum Grant or the Oregon Heritage Commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.
The City of Weston has received a grant through the federal Historic Preservation Fund, administered by Oregon State Historic Preservation Office to fund the following local preservation projects.
Weston, Umatilla County
Masonic Lodge Building, 109-111 East Main Street
$12,000 grant funds
Stabilize the exterior wall.
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 www.oregonheritage.org and follow the federal grant public comment page link or contact Jessica Gabriel at riel@oregon.gov">Jessica.Gabriel@oregon.gov or 503-986-0677.
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: i.Gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oregon.gov.
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SALEM, Ore. – Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is soliciting public input on the 17 Oregon Scenic Bikeways. Individuals that have ridden any of the bikeways are encouraged to share their experiences via a short online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PHPCFFL
OPRD will use the survey results to guide bikeway improvement plans. The Oregon Scenic Bikeways Program was started in 2009 and is overseen by OPRD.
Information about the 17 designated Scenic Bikeways—printable maps, GPS and route descriptions—is online at www.oregonscenicbikeways.org.
ESTACADA, Ore. – Kayaks and paddleboards are now available to rent at Milo McIver State Park’s Estacada Lake through Labor Day Weekend. Rentals will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, six days a week (closed Tuesdays) at the Estacada Lake boat ramp.
“We want to make paddle sports accessible to as many people as possible,” said Guy Rodrigue, Park Manager of Milo McIver. “Estacada Lake is a perfect setting for beginners and anyone with mobility challenges. The water is calm, and an ADA accessible kayak launch provides easier access.”
Clackamas River Outfitters (CRO) of Estacada will rent several types of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Costs range from $20 for the first hour to $65 for a full day. CRO also offers whitewater kayak rentals, floating tubes, guided paddleboard tours and one-on-one and group lessons. Details are at clackamasriveroutfitters.com, or call 503-341-4268.
Estacada Lake refers to the calm section of the Clackamas River formed by River Mill Dam. Paddlers have access to two miles of forest-lined river that extends into a deep canyon with waterfalls pouring in from the sides. It’s not uncommon to spot osprey, eagles and other wildlife from the river.
Located less than 30 miles east of Portland, Milo McIver’s 950 acres offer a bit of everything — camping, picnicking, hiking and equestrian trails, a world-renowned disc golf course, fishing and both flatwater and whitewater recreation. Milo McIver is one of several state parks that offer water sport rentals. More information is at oregonstateparks.org.
Salem --The Wall of Water fountain bordering Court Street across from the main capitol entrance will remain off due to the ongoing drinking water advisory set by city and state officials. The fountain usually operates between Memorial Day and Labor Day when the forecasted temperature is above 80 degrees.
The Wall of Water fountain is a summer attraction for area children, many under 6 years old. The drinking water advisory due to cyanotoxins in the water supply applies to children under 6 years old, others with impaired immune systems and people affected by kidney or liver disease. Pets should also not drink the water.
Park staff will monitor the ongoing drinking water advisory and re-open the fountain when the advisory is lifted.
Visitor access to the interior of Heceta Head Lighthouse will be temporarily closed starting July 1, 2018, for repairs. The work, which is expected to be finished by July 31, 2018, will repair several cracked interior metal columns on the upper floor of the lighthouse. The lighthouse lens will be covered and the light will be temporarily out of service to protect the lens during the renovation work. The grounds surrounding the lighthouse will remain open and visitors may walk up to the lighthouse during the closure, but not enter the building. Interpretive programs will be conducted on the grounds surrounding the lighthouse.
The project will cost an estimated $135,000. Most of the funds—$75,000—were donated by park visitors. The remaining $60,000 is funded with Oregon Lottery dollars dedicated by voters to park repairs and improvements.
The historic assistant lighthouse keeper’s house, which the U.S. Forest Service operates through a concessionaire as a B&B, will remain open (hecetalighthouse.com).
REDMOND, Ore. – The State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) will consider nominations to the National Register of Historic Places June 22 at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center, North Sister Meeting Room, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond. The meeting is open to the public.
The day will begin with a presentation by the Associate Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer at 9 a.m. Nomination hearings start at 11:15 a.m.
The committee will review four proposed nominations: the Goldsmith House, Portland; Cameo Theatre, Newberg; Weston Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Weston; and Central Oregon Canal Historic District, Ward Road to Gosney Road in unincorporated Deschutes County. A meeting agenda is available here: www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/NATREG/Pages/nrhp_sachphome.aspx
The SACHP recommends nominations to the National Park Service. The federal agency maintains the National Register of Historic Places under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
The SACHP is a nine-member governor-appointed citizen commission with credentials in many historic preservation-related fields.
The meeting site is accessible to people with disabilities. Special accommodations for the meeting may be made at least three days in advance by calling (503) 986-0690.
More information about the National Register of Historic Places and Oregon properties listed therein is online at www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/SHPO/Pages/index.aspx (click on “National Register” at left of page).
News Release // Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. // FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE // June 8, 2018, 11:30 a.m.
Media Contact:
Chris Havel, Director’s Office, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Cell: 503-931-2590
Salem – The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) has hired Cailin O’Brien-Feeney as its first head of the Oregon Office of Outdoor Recreation. The Office is a new unit inside the agency, created by legislation signed into law by Governor Kate Brown in 2017.
The Office’s purpose is to elevate outdoor recreation in every corner of the state. By collaborating across boundaries with local, state, and federal agencies, plus nonprofits and recreation-dependent businesses, the Office will develop and promote policies, legislation, and management practices that improve access, encourage public participation, and protect natural resources.
O’Brien-Feeney holds an Environmental Studies undergraduate degree from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon and an Environmental Science graduate degree from the University of Idaho. He’s worked in the recreation field for 15 years, including stints with the US Forest Service and as a river guide in Idaho, and has been the State and Local Policy Manager for the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) since 2015. The OIA is a national trade group, and under his leadership, Cailin’s worked with governors, legislators, and agencies across the country to improve access to outdoor recreation opportunities, encourage strategies that increase economic benefits, and promoted establishment of Offices of Outdoor Recreation in other states. He will start work in Oregon in late June.
“We’re happy Cailin agreed to come back to Oregon and work with the team focusing on improving outdoor recreation here,” says Lisa Sumption, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department director. “There’s a strong community in place that will benefit from his policy leadership as we work to make the benefits of outdoor recreation available to every Oregonian.”
The 2017 Oregon legislation creating the Office inside OPRD, House Bill 3350, sprang from the Outdoor Recreation Initiative convened by Travel Oregon, and was supported by a coalition of nonprofits and businesses like the Mazamas, American Whitewater, and REI, among others.
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The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department manages the state park system, State Historic Preservation Office, state scenic bikeways and waterways, and provides millions of dollars in grants to Oregon communities for outdoor recreation and historic preservation.
SALEM, Ore. – The Local Government Grant Program Advisory Committee will meet June 18-20 at the Best Western Plus Mill Creek Inn, 3125 Ryan Drive SE, Salem. The meeting is open to the public.
Local Government Grant Program (LGGP) applicants will present their proposed projects to the committee for review. The committee will evaluate and score all applications and create a priority ranking list of projects to be funded. The priority ranking list will be forwarded to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Commission for final review and approval.
Meeting times for each day:
—June 18: 11:20 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
—June 19: 8:40 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
—June 20: 8:40 a.m. – 2:20 p.m.
For specific presentation times, refer to the June public meeting calendar on the Oregon transparency website: https://data.oregon.gov/dataset/2018-June-Oregon-Public-Meetings-Calendar-View/w9hf-hqay/data
The LGGP Advisory Committee consists of 10 volunteer members who represent various constituents across the state. Eligible LGGP applicants include cities, metros, counties, park and recreation districts, and port districts.
LGGP provides grant assistance for public park and outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The program was established in 1998 under the Parks and Natural Resources Fund. The program is funded by a portion of Oregon Lottery dollars and administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD).
For more information about LGGP, visit oprdgrants.org.
The meeting location is ADA accessible. Individuals that need special accommodations to attend must contact OPRD Grant Program Coordinator Mark Cowan, 503-986-0591or k.cowan@oregon.gov">mark.cowan@oregon.gov, at least three days in advance.
EVENT CANCELED due to incelemnt weather. It will be rescheduled for a later date.
ESTACADA, Ore — Milo McIver State Park will host guest speakers, a historical photo display and an outdoor concert on June 9 in celebration of its 50-year anniversary as a state park. The festivities begin with a ceremony at 5:30 pm at the Milo McIver Memorial Viewpoint, the same spot where Governor Tom McCall and a host of dignitaries gathered June 7, 1968 to dedicate the park.
The event will include refreshments and an unveiling of the newly remodeled viewpoint. Guest speakers will include OPRD’s Deputy Director MG Devereux and Malcolm McIver, son of the park’s namesake. Historic photos documenting the park’s evolution will be on display.
A free outdoor concert will follow at 7:30 pm featuring Bend-based classical pianist Hunter Noack. The concert will kick off Noack’s summer concert series, titled In a Landscape: Classical Music in the Wild. For the annual concert series, Noack wheels his grand piano to beautiful outdoor spaces throughout the Northwest. Information at www.inalandscape.org. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets.
Parking costs $5 for the day; parking permits are available onsite. For more information visit oregonstateparks.org or call 503-630-7150.
BURNS, Ore. — The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its third meeting of the year June 12-13 in Burns.
On June 12, commissioners will tour state and federal historical and recreation sites in Harney County. Following an afternoon training and work session, commissioners will host a community open house from 3–5 p.m. at the Frenchglen Elementary School gymnasium, 39235 Hwy 205, Frenchglen.
On June 13, commissioners will convene an executive session at 8:15 a.m. at the Harney County Chamber of Commerce at 484 N. Broadway Ave., Burns. They will discuss real estate and legal issues, and review OPRD chief executive officer issues. Executive sessions are closed to the public.
A public business meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the same location. The agenda includes requests to:
—Reappoint Lisa Sumption as OPRD director for a second four-year term.
—Replace the Silver Falls conference center bridge.
—Adopt rules that would allow electric assisted bicycles on suitable trails managed by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD).
The draft agenda and meeting packet are listed here: http://bit.ly/2IUlMk8.
People who plan to present oral testimony are asked to provide 15 copies of their statement to Commission Assistant Denise Warburton burton@oregon.gov">denise.warburton@oregon.gov. Those needing special accommodations to attend should also contact Warburton by email, or call 503-986-0719, at least three days in advance.
The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission promotes outdoor recreation and heritage by establishing policies, adopting rules, and setting the budget for OPRD. The seven members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. Commissioners serve four-year terms and meet several times a year at locations across the state. Visit www.oregon.gov/oprd/Pages/commission.aspx for more information.
FLORENCE, Ore. - Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Grant subcommittee will hold a business meeting 9-11 a.m. June 13. The meeting will be on the second floor of the Siuslaw Valley Fire & Rescue building, 2625 US-101, Florence. The public is invited to attend.
On the agenda: introduce three new ATV committee members; discuss ATV Grant processes; discuss budget for next biennium; and provide updates on recently passed ATV legislation (SB344). No grant applications will be reviewed at the meeting. New member orientation will be from 8-9 a.m.
The ATV Grant Program provides funding statewide for off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. Grant funds come from ATV user permit sales and a percentage of gasoline tax money. More information about the grant program is here: http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/ATV/Pages/Grants.aspx
Individuals that require special accomodations to attend the meeting should contact Mike Law, Grant and Community Programs Representative, at 541-991-1989 or mike.law@oregon.gov at least three days in advance. The meeting location is ADA accessible.
Constructed ca. 1892, the Lewis C. and Emma Thompson house is located in unincorporated Yamhill County on land once part of Glenbrook Farm. While three generations of the Thompson family are associated with the listed property, it was Lewis C. Thompson, a farmer and businessman, and his wife Emma, who stylistically revised this house. The couple incorporated Craftsman Style features onto the house’s initial Stick Style design, resulting in a replacement of the old style with the new. Significantly, the Thompson house represents the transition from nineteenth century Victorian era design motifs, which focused on verticality, applied ornamentation, and complex rooflines, to the early-twentieth century modern approach to residential design, which focused on horizontality, open floorplans, and ornamentation that revealed and celebrated structural elements. This change is well captured in the Thompson House and is a stark representation of one of the greatest shifts in American domestic architectural history.
Oregon’s State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation recommended the building’s nomination in their February 2018 meeting. It is one of 83 individually listed historic properties in Yamhill County in the National Register, which is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
More information about the National Register and recent Oregon lists is online at www.oregonheritage.org (click on “National Register” at left of page).
CLOVERDALE, Ore. – Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) announced today the opening of Sitka Sedge State Natural Area on June 2. The 375-acre park features a day-use area, hiking trails and six wildlife viewing areas that overlook the Sand Lake Estuary, forested dunes and ocean.
“We’re very excited to open the area to the public,” said Kirk Barham, Sitka Sedge Park Manager. “Sitka Sedge has a unique beach ecosystem, and we want to preserve the area’s natural character for visitors.”
June 2 is also State Parks Day, and Sitka Sedge will be joining the statewide celebration. The first 100 visitors to the park can enjoy a free hot dog lunch, beginning at 11 a.m. Visitors can choose from two ranger-led hiking options: short hikes that begin at noon and 1:30 p.m., or a longer tour of the park that begins at 12:30 p.m. A hands-on activity for kids will also be available throughout the afternoon.
Sitka Sedge’s day-use parking is limited. If the lot is full, consider a trip north to visit Clay Meyers State Natural Area or make the short drive south to Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area first before coming back to Sitka Sedge. Please respect nature (and the neighbors) by not parking along the shoulder of Sand lake Road.
Three miles of trails run through the Sand Lake Estuary, and two loop trails—Estuary Views and Kinnikinnik Woods—traverse the forested dunes. Two beach access points stem from the loop trails. Two wildlife viewing areas along the Beltz Dike Trail are ADA accessible.
“State Natural Area” is a designation for protecting outstanding or important portions of Oregon’s ecosystems. The property will remain a low-impact, low-development area. OPRD purchased the area in 2014 using voter-dedicated Oregon Lottery funds and a grant from the U.S. Forest Service.
For more information about Sitka Sedge State Natural Area, visit oregonstateparks.org.
Western snowy plover nests have been spotted at Clatsop Spit within Fort Stevens State Park. Nest sightings prompt special precautions in designated snowy plover management areas. The Columbia River side of Clatsop Spit is one of several management areas on the coast.
Beachgoers will see signs on dry sand that identify designated plover nesting areas. This helps prevent the well-camouflaged eggs and chicks from being accidentally crushed by people or pets. Visitor foot traffic is limited to wet sand areas and along official trails.
Several activities are restricted in plover management areas, including dogs (even on a leash), vehicles, kites, drones, camping and fires. Visitors should follow instructions on posted signs or if needed, ask a park ranger for clarification.
Plovers nest in dry open sand, in tiny, shallow scrapes. Not only are nests easy to miss (or step on), but repeated disturbance by activities the bird considers a threat can cause the eggs to die.
Vanessa Blackstone, wildlife biologist with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), says the new plover nests are the first to be spotted on Fort Stevens' beaches in several decades.
“Oregonians have helped plovers return to the North Coast, and Clatsop Spit is an important link between our Lincoln County birds and those that live in Washington,” said Blackstone. “Plovers nesting at Fort Stevens is a huge step for species recovery and people who support a healthy environment. We can all be proud of this moment.”
OPRD is responsible for managing recreation on Oregon’s ocean shore, overseeing snowy plover management areas and the recreation restrictions that come with the legal agreement between OPRD and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Western snowy plovers were listed as a threatened species in 1993.
More information, including maps of designated plover management areas, can be found at bit.ly/wsplover.
On Thursday, May 31st, Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), will host the 10th Annual Preservation Month Fair at the State Capitol State Park in Salem. Community organizations and several state agencies will highlight the history of their institutions and their work to preserve important sites related to historic events, persons, and places.
May is National Historic Preservation Month and for Oregon communities throughout the state it’s an opportunity to reflect on significant places, artifacts, and collections that help tell the stories of our past as well as to recognize the contributions of those individuals and organizations that preserve those stories and places.
Celebrate National Historic Preservation Month with 28 heritage organizations displaying historic military vehicles, artifacts, and engaging exhibits that tell Oregon's story and highlight the contributions of individuals and organizations to local preservation projects.
The event will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the grounds of the State Capitol on the north side of Court Street, opposite the Capitol building. It is free and open to the public.
Participating exhibitors include the Willamette Heritage Center; Salem Landmarks Commission; Historic Deepwood Estate; Friends of Salem Pioneer Cemetery; Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health; Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians; Coquille Indian Tribe; Friends of Timberline Lodge; Oregon Black Pioneers; Oregon Aviation Historical Society; Hoover Minthorn House Museum; Daughters of the American Revolution, Newell Pioneer Village and Caples House Museum; Santiam Heritage Foundation; Restore Oregon; Lower Columbia Preservation Society; Silverton Country Historical Society; Oregon Fire Museum; Oregon Military Museum project; proponents of Champoeg State Park; Friends of Silver Falls State Park; Oregon State Parks; Oregon Historical Society; Oregon Historic Trails Advisory Council; Oregon Cultural Trust; Oregon Department of Forestry (Forest History Center); Oregon Department of Transportation; Oregon State Capitol Foundation; Oregon State Archives, and the Oregon State Library.
On display at the event are an operating World War II M3A1 Stuart Light Tank and a Korean War Jeep. A free tour of the Capitol Building Tower, including the observation deck, will begin at the information kiosk in the Capitol Building at 12:00, please arrive 10 minutes early.