New Survey To Help Inform Oregon Statewide Trails Plan Runs Through April 30 (Photo) -04/04/25

SALEM, Oregon— Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) wants to better understand how residents use all land and water trails throughout Oregon and opportunities for improvement. 

OPRD launched an online survey this month to collect the feedback now through April 30. The survey is open to all trail users and potential trail users including hikers, bikers, equestrians, OHV and ATV riders, snowmobilers, boaters and paddlers who recreate on any public lands or bodies of water in Oregon, not just Oregon State Parks. 

The information will help inform the Oregon Statewide Trails Plan, which provides guidance for OPRD as well as other federal, state, and local agencies and private sector partners. It outlines trends and issues, creates priorities for grant funding and recommends actions to improve trails over the next 10 years.  

The Oregon Statewide Trails Plan covers non-motorized trails (hiking, biking, equestrian), motorized ATV trails, snowmobile trails, and non-motorized boating and water trails.  

The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete, and it’s open to all Oregon residents. Those who complete the survey have the option of entering a drawing for a free Oregon State Parks annual parking permit. 

“Oregon is home to amazing recreational trails. Each year, more than 80% of Oregon residents recreate on trail systems across the state. We appreciate residents’ support and feedback, which will help make these systems even better in the future,” said OPRD Statewide Trails Planner Jessica Horning. 

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

Earth Day Volunteer Opportunity At Sunset Bay State Park Near Coos Bay (Photo) -04/01/25

COOS BAY, Oregon— Join rangers at Sunset Bay State Park from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday April 26 to remove invasive English ivy from the landscape and make space for native plants in honor of Earth Day.

Invasive species of ivy are prevalent throughout the Pacific Northwest and tend to outcompete native plants. Assist park rangers in identifying and eradicating the weed from the park property in honor of Earth Day.

Volunteers will gather at Yoakum Point about ¼ mile before Sunset Bay day-use area when driving south. The trailhead is on the west side of the highway, and the parking lot is on the east side (please do not block the driveway). The address is 90064 Cape Arago Highway.

Participants should be prepared to travel on uneven ground at the service site. Service will take place outdoors, and volunteers should be comfortable wearing work gloves and using hand tools. Gloves, tools, snacks and bottled water will be provided.

Volunteers are encouraged to dress for the weather and wear closed toed-shoes and something they don’t mind getting dirty.

For more information, please contact Park Ranger Jess Hayward at Jess.hayward@oprd.oregon.gov or 541-888-3732.

Seeking Public Comment On Proposed Changes To Day-use Parking Permits (Photo) -04/01/25

SALEM, Oregon—Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking public comment on a proposal to expand the 25% out-of-state camping surcharge to parking permit fees and eliminate the two-year parking permit.

The out-of-state camping surcharge was enacted by state law in 2022 for RV campsites, and OPRD expanded it to all site types for out-of-state campers for stays beginning July 1, 2025.

The proposed rule change would add the 25% out-of-state surcharge to parking permit fees. Based on current rates, out-of-state visitors would pay $12.50 per day or $37.50 for an annual parking permit. If approved, the change would begin July 1, 2025.

Oregon residents would continue to pay the same parking permit rate of $10 per day or $30 for an annual permit.

The proposed rule change would also eliminate the sales of 24-month parking permits starting in 2026. Existing permits would be honored until they expire. The 12-month annual permit will continue to be sold.

These changes would help parks more consistently implement the surcharge as well as track annual revenue and budgets for parks in the future. It’s part of an ongoing effort to help keep pace with rising costs while continuing to provide exceptional outdoor experiences.

Public comments on the proposed rule change will be accepted through 5 p.m. April 30, 2025:

• Online: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx
• Mail: OPRD Department, attn: Katie Gauthier, 725 Summer St NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301
• Email: OPRD.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov

A public hearing will also be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, 2025:

• Register to attend the virtual hearing at: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__1Zw_JurTy-PYpxWhGra2w#/registration

Once the public comment period ends, the proposal with any incorporated updates is slated to go to Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission in June for possible adoption.

Tree At Yaquina Bay Declared A Hazard, Park Gathering Memories Before Cut (Photo) -03/28/25

NEWPORT, Oregon— The Sitka Spruce that stands in the median near the entrance to Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site was declared a hazard due to widespread decay throughout the tree. The park is gathering community memories of the beloved tree before it's cut.

The park will remove or significantly cut back the tree in June to avoid potential hazards including damage to vehicles and physical injuries to park visitors.

“It was a difficult decision to make especially with this iconic Sitka Spruce that has become a friend to us all over the years as the gatekeeper to the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, but we have to balance between the beauty of nature and the safety of our visitors,” said Park Manager Burke Martin.

“We know that this tree is not only special to us but to the local community as well. We’re offering residents an opportunity to share their memories and potential ideas on

how to honor this amazing gift of nature.”

Residents can share their memories and ideas at https://bit.ly/YaquinaBayTree. The park will gather the submissions and decide how best to incorporate the memories and ideas to commemorate the tree.

The Sitka Spruce lost a large limb during a winter storm, which prompted a physical inspection. The results showed there was significant decay throughout the tree. A resistograph was used to analyze the decay pockets within the tree, and it revealed widespread decay. The recommendation was to remove the tree to avoid potential hazards.

Staff will either cut back the tree significantly to create a snag for wildlife or remove the tree. Park staff will share updates with the community on the plans for the tree and how to commemorate it this spring.

Oregon Heritage Released 2024 Oregon Main Street Annual Report (Photo) -03/25/25

SALEM, Oregon – Oregon Heritage just released the 2024 Oregon Main Street Annual report. A copy of the report can be found on the Oregon Main Street website: www.oregonmainstreet.org.
 

The report highlights the collective impact of communities participating in the Main Street Track of the Oregon Main Street Network in 2024, including over $24 million in private sector investment, 168 net new businesses, 1,652 net new jobs, and over 293 building rehab projects. In addition, volunteers contributed almost 34,000 of volunteer hours to make their communities better places to live, work, shop, and experience. The cumulative impact since 2010 is also included in the report.
 

The report also features community spotlights on projects and activities happening on Main Street in Oregon including the HRVI building restoration project in Chiloquin which was a recipient of a $200,000 Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant in 2022 and is nearing completion.
 

Currently, there are over 100 communities in Oregon participating in one of the different levels of the Oregon Main Street Network: Accredited Main Street, Designated Main Street, Affiliated Main Street, Connected Communities, or as part of one of the Rural Regional Main Street hubs. There isn’t a fee to participate in the Oregon Main Street Network.
 

Oregon Main Street (OMS) is part of Heritage Programs in Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. OMS is designed to assist with the revitalization of historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts, promote economic development, and encourage historic preservation. The program uses an approach that advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of central business districts based on their assets, unique architecture, personal service, local ownership and entrepreneurship, and sense of community. 

Shore Acres Garden Volunteer Days Gives Visitors A Chance To Give Back (Photo) -03/25/25

COOS BAY, Oregon— Shore Acres State Park will host Garden Volunteer Days once a month April through September to give visitors a chance to volunteer in the garden.

Volunteers can learn how to prune a rose or maintain a 100-year-old-lily pond as they work alongside rangers in caring for the beautiful gardens at 89526 Cape Arago Highway, Coos Bay.

Garden Volunteer Days run 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.:

• April 18: Pond Cleanup including pulling out debris, fertilizing pond lilies and trimming shrubs along the pond. Rubber boots are highly recommended, and plan on getting wet. For ages 18 and older.
• May 16, June 20 and July 18: Garden cleanup including weeding, trimming, mowing, mulching, planting, rose pruning and pulling invasive plants. Ages 14 and older.
• Aug. 15: English Ivy pull to help remove this invasive species from the garden. For ages 14 and older.
• Sept. 19: Garden cleanup including weeding, trimming, mowing, mulching, planting, rose pruning and pulling invasive plants. Ages 14 and older.

Participants should be prepared to travel a short distance on uneven ground at the service site. Service will take place outdoors, and volunteers should be comfortable wearing work gloves and using hand tools. Gloves, hand tools and morning snacks are provided. Bring a lunch.

Closed-toed shoes are recommended. Wear something you don’t mind getting dirty. Please contact Park Ranger Jess Hayward with any questions at Jess.hayward@oprd.oregon.gov or 541-888-3732.

Shore Acres features a formal garden with plants and flowers from all over the world. It includes a Japanese-style garden with lily pond and two curated rose gardens that include All-American Rose Selections. Something is in bloom almost every day of the year: the first spring bulbs pop up in late February; rhododendrons and azaleas soon follow; roses bloom through the summer; and dahlias appear August through mid-October.

Salmonberry Trail Intergovernmental Agency To Meet March 28 -03/21/25

SALEM, Oregon— The Salmonberry Trail Intergovernmental Agency (STIA) will meet 9 a.m. to noon Friday, March 28 to discuss a draft governance structure, roles and next steps.

The hybrid meeting is open to the public and attendees can join in person at Oregon Department of Forestry Office, 2600 State Street Salem, in the Tillamook Room or online via Microsoft Teams.  

STIA was established to plan the development and maintenance of the proposed Salmonberry Trail.

The proposed tail is an 86-mile corridor that follows the Port of Tillamook Bay Railway and terminates in Banks. The proposed route connects eight cities and two counties, passing by the Oregon coastline, fisheries, farmland and the Oregon Coast Range. More information is at salmonberrytrail.org.

Join Online:

Platform: Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 259 257 525 194
Passcode: K8eA9ur6
Phone conference ID: 396 278 293# (if dialing in)

To submit public comments for board members to review during the meeting, please send comments to Mike Cafferata at mike.j.cafferata@odf.oregon.gov at least three days prior to the meeting.

Record Number Of Day-use Visits Estimated At Oregon State Parks In 2024 (Photo) -03/14/25

SALEM, Oregon— Oregon State Parks experienced its busiest day-use year in history last year with more than 53.85 million estimated visits*, outpacing the previous record in 2021 by about 200,000 visits.

Day-use visits increased overall by more than 3 percent last year due to visitors seeking out coastal parks in greater numbers. Other regions saw slight decreases.

Visitors also logged 2.83 million camper nights*, which is down slightly due in part to construction closures at popular state parks including Beverly Beach, Bullards Beach and Nehalem Bay state parks.

The record number of day-use visits follows several other record-breaking years at Oregon State Parks. The rise in popularity does have an impact, including an increase in costs and wear and tear on an aging park system.

• One busy park needs nearly a semi-truck load of toilet paper per year for visitors.
• More than one third of restroom facilities are 50 years old or older, which require more care and maintenance with higher use. The cost to replace a restroom/shower building is now more than $1 million each.
• Parks serve as many as 17,000 campers per night in the busy season, which means moving a city roughly the size of Canby in and out of campgrounds almost daily.

At the same time, the rising cost of operations and maintenance have outpaced revenue by more than 30%. Oregon State Parks increased visitor fees this year and will continue to look at fees over the next two years to help balance the budget.

“Raising fees is not a long-term solution. We need to talk about what Oregonians want for the future of Oregon State Parks and how do we, as a state, make sure they’re sustainably funded for current and future generations” said Director Lisa Sumption.

Oregon State Parks does not receive general fund tax dollars for operations. The system is funded by recreational vehicle fees, the state lottery and revenue earned by serving visitors.

The increased visitation also underscores the need for rangers and support staff statewide. Last month, Oregon State Parks started its 2025 seasonal recruitment to hire more than 200 seasonal rangers and ranger assistants with the goal of filling all those roles this year.

Rangers and support staff work hard to keep the parks clean and safe while providing educational and recreational opportunities.

Visitors can help reduce the impact at their favorite parks by following park rules, staying on trail and leaving no trace. They might also consider visiting some of the hidden gems in the park system to find a new favorite place to explore.

*The overnight camping figure is derived by taking the total number occupied sites and applying a multiplier to estimate the number of camper nights. The day-use figure is derived by taking car counts and applying a multiplier to estimate the number of visits. Car counters sometimes require maintenance and replacement, which can impact individual numbers. The overall results are OPRD’s best estimate for tracking trends over time.

Northwest Digital Heritage Reaches One Million Digital Records Of Cultural Heritage Collections Available To View Online -03/14/25

Salem, OR - People around Oregon and the world now have free access to search over one million digitized photographs, letters, documents, and more from around the Pacific Northwest. These historic and cultural materials are available in Northwest Digital Heritage, a website that searches the collections of over 300 regional libraries, museums, and cultural heritage organizations.
 

Northwest Digital Heritage is an online search portal that gathers records from the online collections of libraries, museums, universities, historical societies, and other organizations in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The site was created in 2021 through a partnership between the Oregon Heritage Commission, State Library of Oregon, and Washington State Library.
 

Items available through Northwest Digital Heritage span topics, from football and women’s suffrage to Tribal treaties, Black history and culture, Crater Lake, and much more. The content has proven valuable to educators and students doing classroom projects, genealogists researching family connections, scholarly researchers, historians, cultural heritage organizations making exhibits, and other lifelong learners.
 

The over one million materials include over 60,000 photos from Oregon State Archives’ Oregon Scenic Images Collection, 20,000 items from the Oregon Historical Society Research Library, 5,000 records from the Harney County Library, 13,000 images from the Salem Public Library, and nearly 2,000 materials from the Five Oaks Museum in Washington County.
 

The collections in Northwest Digital Heritage are also included in the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), which helps bring this unique and local Northwest content to a national audience. More than 5,000 institutions throughout the nation have contributed over 50 million records to the DPLA to date.
 

“Being able to search one million records for primary sources documenting the human experience in the Pacific Northwest is an incredible opportunity for those interested in history,” says Katie Henry, Oregon Heritage Commission Coordinator. “The three Northwest Digital Heritage partners know these are only a fraction of cultural materials held by hundreds of organizations across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. We look forward to working with existing and new partners to continue growing this incredible resource.”
 

In addition to helping make this resource available, the Oregon Heritage Commission, State Library of Oregon, and Washington State Library assist heritage organizations across the Pacific Northwest. Such assistance includes:

• Training, resources, information, and guidance on digitizing and making collections accessible online;

• Grants and funding opportunities; and

• Hosting organizations’ online collections.

Northwest Digital Heritage is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon and Washington State Library. To learn more visit https://www.northwestdigitalheritage.org.

Kam Wah Chung Visitor Center To Open For Spring Break March 24 And March 27-30 (Photo) -03/13/25

JOHN DAY, Oregon— Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site Interpretive Center will open its doors during the week of spring break before reopening for the full season.

The Interpretive Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 24 and March 27-30. The Kam Wah Chung building and museum will remain closed due to nearby construction. 

Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site is a National Historic Landmark that preserves the home and businesses of two Chinese immigrants, Ing "Doc" Hay and Lung On. For more than 60 years the building was a social, medical and religious center for Oregon's Chinese community and the region.

“While visitors might not be able to experience the museum itself this spring break, they can learn about this incredible heritage site through exhibits at the Interpretive Center,” said OPRD Eastern District Manager Kirk Barham.

The center will also host information about the new visitor center, which is slated to break ground in Spring 2026. The Kam Wah Chung Interpretive Center is at 125 NW Canton Street in John Day. For more information visit the park webpage or call 541-575-2800.

Spring Whale Watch Week Returns To The Oregon Coast For Spring Break 2025 (Photo) -03/13/25

OREGON COAST, Oregon— Oregon State Parks will host Spring Whale Watch Week along the Oregon Coast Saturday, March 22 through Sunday, March 30.

Trained Oregon State Park volunteers and rangers will be stationed at 14 sites along the Oregon Coast to help visitors spot whales and their calves and answer questions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily March 22-30. The sites are some of the best places to watch for whales on the Oregon Coast.  Cape Foulweather will not be included this year because it is closed due to construction.

“Spring is a great time for whale watching because the gray whales are usually closer to shore on their return trip, typically around a mile or so out, and they might have calves in tow,” said Park Ranger Peter McBride.

An estimated 19,260 gray whales are expected to swim past Oregon’s shores from late winter through June as part of their annual migration back to Alaska.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced an end to an Unusual Mortality Event impacting gray whales in 2023. Since then, the estimated population has increased by roughly 30% from 14,530 in 2023 to 19,260 last year, according to NOAA. The numbers are on the rise overall, but the calf count is still low as the population continues to rebound.

Whale Watch Week provides an opportunity to see not only the gray whales but other coastal wildlife including birds and other marine mammals with help from trained volunteers and rangers.

A map of volunteer-staffed sites is available online on the official event webpage: https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=thingstodo.dsp_whaleWatching

The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 22-30. Visitors to the center can enjoy interactive whale exhibits and take in the panoramic ocean views. Binoculars are provided. Rangers from Oregon State Parks will also be on hand to answer questions about the whales.

All Whale Watch Week visitors are encouraged to dress for the weather, to bring binoculars and to follow beach safety guidelines such as remaining out of fenced areas, knowing the tide schedule and keeping an eye on the surf at all times. Go to https://visittheoregoncoast.com/beach-safety/ for a list of safety tips.

For more information about coast parks and campgrounds, visit stateparks.oregon.gov.

Visitors are encouraged to share their photos and videos from Spring Whale Watch on social media using #OregonStateParks and #ORWhaleWatch.

Media Resources: photos available at this link.

Learn About Kam Wah Chung Visitor Center Project At Open House March 19 -03/12/25

JOHN DAY, Oregon— Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is hosting an open house 4 to 6 p.m. March 19 to share information about the Kam Wah Chung Visitor Center project, which is slated to break ground in spring 2026.

OPRD is finalizing construction documents for the new visitor center and will put the project out for bid this fall. Construction will start as soon as spring 2026.

You’re invited to learn more about the project during an open house 4 to 6 p.m. March 19 at the Kam Wah Chung Interpretative Center, 125 NW Canton Street in John Day.

“The new visitor center will enhance the visitor experience, help preserve the museum collection and provide additional education space,” said Eastern District Manager Kirk Barham.

The new visitor center is anticipated to include:

• Expanded interpretive areas 
• Classroom which may double as a community meeting space
• Restrooms
• Collection processing and archive storage
• Office space for staff

The visitor’s center will open as soon as spring 2028. OPRD will post information about the project and visitor impacts on the park webpage and GO Bond page.

Respect Nesting Areas To Protect Threatened Snowy Plover On The Oregon Coast March 15 - Sept. 15 (Photo) -03/12/25

Corvallis, Ore., March 13, 2025 – The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and Siuslaw National Forest remind visitors to the Oregon coast that it is plover nesting season ­— beachgoers can help recovery efforts for the threatened western snowy plover March 15 to Sept. 15.

Sensitive plover nesting areas are identified on maps for the northern Oregon Coast and southern Oregon Coast. Signs may be present at trailheads with additional rules and limits, such as staying on the wet sand and no dogs even on a leash, to help protect the small shorebirds and their exposed nests during this crucial period. Visitors may also see rope fencing in dry sand areas; this fencing delineates some, but not all, of the critical plover habitat that should be avoided.

Recreation restrictions occur in designated plover management areas: stretches of beach along the coastline where plovers nest or might nest. These areas combined make up about 40 miles of Oregon's 362 miles of shoreline.

Seasonal recreation restrictions have helped protect these small birds that nest on open sand along Oregon’s beaches. Nests, and especially chicks, are well-camouflaged. During the nesting season, human disturbances can flush adult plovers away from their nests as they attempt to defend their young. Left alone too long, or too often, eggs or chicks can die from exposure, predators or people.

Reminders for recreation on designated plover beaches March 15-Sept. 15:

• The following are not permitted: dogs (even on a leash), driving a vehicle, riding a bicycle, operating electric-assisted bicycles, camping, burning wood, flying kites or operating drones.
• Foot and equestrian traffic are permitted below the high-tide line on hard packed sand.
• Respect signs and barriers to protect nesting habitat.

“With the support of the public and improvements to plover habitat, we’re making great strides in reversing the decline of this species,” said Cindy Burns, Siuslaw National Forest wildlife biologist. “Keep doing your part to understand nesting season rules and to share the beach this spring and summer.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed western snowy plovers as a threatened species in 1993, when officials counted only 45 breeding adults. The numbers of breeding adults have steadily increased since then due to ongoing efforts. Officials counted 440 during the breeding season survey in 2024.

“We appreciate visitors' support in keeping these shorebirds safe in the combined 40 miles of protected area along the coast. We invite visitors to enjoy permitted recreation in those areas or to recreate without seasonal restrictions on the hundreds of miles of beaches not designated as plover nesting areas,” said Laurel Hillmann, ocean shore specialist for Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

More information on the snowy plover, including detailed maps of nesting sites, can be found on the Oregon State Parks website (oregon.gov/plovers) and on the Siuslaw National Forest website (https://t.ly/AKPAN). Visitors to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and Sand Lake Recreation Area can review Off-highway Vehicle (OHV) maps to identify unrestricted recreation areas and information on riding motor vehicles on the sand.

New plover activity   

Plovers have been found nesting in new or historical nesting sites. For example, plover nests have been identified at the Sand Lake Recreation Area, near the lake’s inlet, every year the last few years. Beachgoers can protect these birds by recreating on the wet sand areas, avoiding roped off nesting areas, observing trail kiosks and signs, packing all trash out and keeping dogs on leash.

Background on plover protections

Several land managers oversee beach activity for plover protection, primarily the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW).

Habitat loss from invasive plants — as well as human disturbances, including litter and discarded food scraps that attract predators — have contributed to the birds’ decline. The Oregon Dunes Restoration Collaborative, saveoregondunes.org, is working with land managers on a restoration strategy and to raise public awareness about the need to restore the dunes ecosystem for western snowy plovers, rare plants and animals and the unique recreation opportunities offered here.

Editors: photos are available at this link.