Sean C. Morgan
Northwest Youth Corps crews were busy the last couple of weeks punching new trails through River Bend County Park.
Each year, Northwest Youth Corps applies for funding from a pot of money paid to Linn County by the federal government in lieu of property taxes.
?They did a fabulous job,? Linn County Parks and Recreation Director Brian Carroll said. The crews cut between 1.5 and two miles of trail through several areas of dense brush and along the South Santiam River.
River Bend Park is the county?s newest park. It is located a little more than three miles east of Quartzville Road off Highway 20.
?It was a lot of work,? Carroll said. ?Basically, they were going through uncut brush.?
Their work included ?trail tread,? the removal of roots, rocks and stumps from the trail path.
Two crews worked over the last two weeks, and Carroll hopes to tap the Youth Corps again next summer to continue the project.
Last year, a Youth Corps crew rebuilt the stairs to the top of Royal Terrace Falls at McDowell Creek Park. The year before, Youth Corps members restored the boat camp at Whitcomb Creek Park.
?They?ve been a good source of workforce, and they?ve accomplished a lot,? Carroll said.
Other county agencies also tap Youth Corps services. The Youth Corps also works with the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
?It?s an educational program for youth as well, and it has to be related to the forest or parks,? Carroll said.
High school students work for pay while in the Youth Corps each summer. They attend a variety of classes related to their work and natural resources while completing projects.
Carroll anticipates opening River Bend for next camping season. It will start with 45 spaces. A second phase will add 45 more spaces.
Roads, parking lots and sites have been cleared in the park. The Road Department will help rebuild the entrance, where a turn lane will be installed on Highway 20.
Linn County crews were planning to put base rock into the parking lots this week, and they have already started excavation for utilities and installing ?blanks,? empty conduits under the road for future expansion of utilities.
Next summer, when the park opens, it probably won?t be paved, Carroll said, but it will have restrooms and a picnic shelter installed.
In its incomplete condition, Carroll isn?t sure what the demand for the campground will be like.
?I think once it?s open, they?ll (campers) be excited to go up and give it a try,? Carroll said. Once work is complete, Linn County will start doing more promotion for the park.