Alex Paul
For The New Era
“If you build it they will come.”
That phrase was made popular more than a decade ago in a film starring Kevin Costner called “Field of Dreams.”
Today, some 60,000 visitors a year still travel to a tiny farm in Northeast Iowa to stand on the pitcher’s mound of the baseball diamond created for that movie.
Local organizers say that will be true of the state’s newest scenic byway, Over the Rivers and Through the Woods that winds it way from Interstate 5 through Brownsville and Sweet Home and connects the junction at the top of the Santiam Pass.
The byway was dedicated in August 2004 and a steering committee of persons interested in promoting it has been meeting regularly to develop plans for marketing and promotion that will eventually benefit businesses in East Linn county.
Thursday, a dozen volunteers met at the community meeting room of the Sweet Home Police Department to refine a priority list generated in February.
Highlighting Thursday’s meeting was the unveiling of a facility log and inventory developed by Wayne Shilts, retired U.S. Forest Service engineer. Shilts compiled some 800 photographs of roadways, businesses and interesting sites along the Scenic Byway route.
He compiled those photos along with data about mile markers, etc. and maps in both paper and CD forms.
In addition to Shilts, other reports included: Anita Leach, interpretive plan and design guide; Joanne West, update on brochure and signage; and Primo Knight, update on the Brownsville kiosk.
West said the brochure is ready as soon as three key photos are completed. They include the Moyer House in Brownsville, the Short Bridge at Cascadia and the Calapooia or Santiam Rivers. The Sweet Home Economic Development Group, Inc. has provided funding for the brochure.
Mandy Cole, who coordinated the meeting, noted, “This byway has so much going for it that others are struggling to get.”
She added that the Sweet Home Ranger District and U.S. Forest Service in general have been instrumental in providing service to the project.
Key committees include: marketing, fundraising, interpretation/education, building infrastructure and scenic byway that includes representative stake holders to help make local decisions about the entire byway.
The committee will meet again June 2, from 3-5 p.m. at the Linn County Museum, Brownsville.