Central Point, Oregon – The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will host an open house from 5:30-7 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the Jackson County Parks office auditorium, 7520 Table Rock Road, Central Point, OR 97502. The purpose of the meeting is to hear feedback from park visitors and neighbors about the possibility of allowing a jet boat river tour business to land and depart from the park. While any jet boat can operate on the river, they need state park permission to conduct business from TouVelle.

The park (https://bit.ly/touvelle) is a 59-acre site on the Rogue River north of Central Point that serves a wide range of people interested in outdoor recreation. Jet boats are currently allowed on the river, and a local business, Rogue Jet Boat Adventures, landed and departed from the park under a short-term pilot project from 2019-2022. During the pilot project, state park staff heard both compliments and concerns about the effect of the project on park visitors and neighbors along the river.

“Before deciding whether and how we establish a longer-term service, we need to hear from people who use TouVelle or live nearby about how they’d like to see us manage this,” says Nathan Seable, Valley of the Rogue Park Manager. While jet boats are allowed on the river both in and outside the park — river rules are set by the Oregon State Marine Board and enforced by the county — an agreement with an operator would allow OPRD to set limits for at least one operator, Seable added.

Pre-registration is not necessary for the open house. A survey to collect feedback is also online at https://bit.ly/touvellesurvey. 

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