The county Parks Department has spent or plans to spend a total of nearly three-quarters of a million dollars this year on parks improvements, including a 45-space addition to River Bend, boating facilities, a disc golf course, new roofs at Clear Lake and more.
“Our plate’s got a little bit on it,” said County Parks Director Brian Carroll.
Here are some of the specifics:
River Bend
The second phase of River Bend is about to begin after Linn County received an approximately $500,000 grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department €“ money from RV licensing fees.
The second phase of the park will add 45 more campsites, a playground, a ballfield and, possibly, another river access point, all west of the existing park facilities.
“We’re excited about starting the River Bend second phase,” Carroll said. “We’re still working out the details on what combination of tent, RV, cabin and group sites we’re going to have.”
The funding secured thus far will pay for roads and campsites, but doesn’t include restrooms or picnic structures.
“No structures are going in at this point,” Carroll said. “I’ll have to secure other grant funds to construct those.”
Another development at River Bend is the completion of the ranger’s residence near the gate to the park. Workers were making finishing touches to the structure just prior to the start of the summer camping season.
Boating Facilities
The county has secured funding from the Oregon State Marine Board for new docks at Lewis Creek County Park on Foster Lake. The approximately $100,000 project will involve docks made almost entirely of steel, where the county has traditionally used wood.
Carroll said that treated wood has raised environmental concerns, “so we’re going to give metal a try.” The docks are on order.
Another project in the works is replacing the boarding floats at Thistle Creek Boat Launch and at Whitcomb Creek Campground on Green Peter Reservoir.
Carroll said the guideway system at Whitcomb Creek will also be realigned, because the existing curved guideway doesn’t work well and the new boarding floats will make it even narrower.
“We’re straightening it out because the docks go under water when the water rises, and it damages them,” he said.
Carroll emphasized that the money for these projects doesn’t come from state general funds but from dedicated sources €“ marine gas taxes and boating registration fees.
“None of this is done with General Fund money,” he said. “I know that’s a concern for taxpayers right now, where the dollars are going. I want people to know the money is coming from the users.”
Clear Lake
Wood shingle roofs on three cabins and the lodge will be replaced this summer, Carroll said.
“That should help with maintenance and safety,” he said. “Wood shingle roofs up there in the forest are not the greatest thing in the world.”
The county is also seeking funds from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to move the diesel tanks, generators and other utilities away from the lake and nearer to the highway, which would lower noise levels and the risk of fuels contaminating the lake, he said.
Waterloo Park
An 18-hole disc golf course is nearly complete at Waterloo, installed mainly by a group of enthusiasts of the game.
“It’s useable now,” Carroll said. “We have a group of volunteers working on the finishing touches. They’re tweaking it a bit.”
Once the county takes care of a few mudholes and similar problems, the course should be complete, he said.
“That’s been a great addition to the park,” Carroll said.
Other Projects
The county is working in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve recreational access to Green Peter Reservoir and along Quartzville Road.
“Our plan is actually to come to the public and ask their opinion on it,” Carroll said. He said the county wants to hear ideas about boating, camping, and recreational access to the reservoir and along Quartzville Road.
The county Web site at http://www.co.linn.or.us has been completely revamped for this summer season.
“The plan is to make it more user-friendly and make it the go-to spot for outdoor recreation in Linn County,” Carroll said.