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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020
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8 state parks won’t reopen this summer
Cape Blanco Lighthouse on the Oregon Coast. ZACH URNESS/STATESMAN JOURNAL
Budget cuts caused
by COVID-19 pandemic
Zach Urness
Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
Eight Oregon state parks and camp-
grounds, including some of the state’s
most iconic places, won’t reopen this
summer, due to budget cuts caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic.
The list of indefinitely shuttered
places includes beloved state parks
such as Cape Blanco and Washburne
campground on the Oregon Coast, plus
Devil’s Lake in Lincoln City and Saddle
Mountain in the Coast Range.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation
Department is facing a $22 million bud-
get gap following declines in revenue af-
ter park shutdowns and a major decline
in Oregon Lottery money that funds
much of the state parks system.
The agency has needed to reduce its
staff in the field by almost half, while
also laying off more than 40 people in its
Salem headquarters.
“The state park system has been
slowly reopening since early May, but
nearly every park is experiencing re-
duced levels of service,” the agency said
in a news release. “OPRD is relying on
visitors to help us through this unprece-
dented time.”
Here’s a list of the parks and camp-
grounds that won’t reopen by Labor Day.
i Alfred A. Loeb State Park camp-
ground and day-use.
i Battle Mountain Forest State Sce-
nic Corridor day-use
i Cape Blanco State Park camp-
ground and day-use (closed through
2020).
i Carl G. Washburne Memorial State
Park campground.
i Devil’s Lake State Recreation Area
campground.
i Saddle Mountain State Natural
Area campground and trails.
i Ukiah-Dale Forest State Scenic
Corridor campground and day-use.
i Umpqua Lighthouse State Park
campground.
State parks spokesman Chris Havel
said the decision on which parks to keep
closed was driven by where the agency
had enough staff to maintain the parks.
“State parks are grouped into units.
Our field managers have to choose how
staff spend their time within the unit,
and that can mean concentrating on the
parks we can run at a minimally-accept-
able level by keeping others closed,” he
said.
While eight state parks won’t reopen,
the majority of the system — more than
200 parks — will be open.
Reduced services
The parks that have reopened have a
much smaller staff than normal during
the busy summer season.
“Our rangers will be focused on es-
sential duties to keep you safe, so other
typical services may fall by the way-
side,” the agency said.
Everything from showers to ranger
booths to welcome centers may be
closed.
“Events and programs will be can-
celed, ice or firewood sales may be sus-
pended, and grounds maintenance and
trash pickup will be less frequent. Ser-
vice availability may change quickly,”
the agency said.
Officials suggested people visit the
official website of a given park before
traveling, to ensure they understand
what will and won’t be available.
Plan and prepare
For those planning to head to re-
opened parks, the agency had a list of
suggestions for best-practices in this
unique situation.
Prepare
i If you’re not feeling well, stay
home. The parks will still be here when
you recover.
i Whether you’re stopping for the af-
ternoon or camping overnight, bring the
essentials with you: face coverings,
hand sanitizer, trash bags (pack it in,
pack it out), water, snacks, and toilet
paper.
i Choose a park close to home. The
shorter your trip, the fewer stops you
have to make on the way there, and the
less time you’ll be in close proximity
with others.
i Check the park’s webpage in ad-
vance to learn what amenities are avail-
able. Some may be closed; read the “re-
duced services” section below.
i Make a backup plan for your out-
ing. Summer is a busy time at state
parks, and people are extra stir-crazy
this year. If you show up and the park or
parking areas look crowded, it’s a good
idea to turn around and follow your
backup plan.
i Parking may be limited, and please
don’t park on road shoulders or private
roads. It’s dangerous and you risk your
vehicle being damaged or towed. If the
parking lot is full, turn around.
Care
i Try to maintain at least 6 feet of
physical distance from folks that aren’t
part of your household. Please wear a
face covering, especially when in con-
gested areas like parking lots, trailheads
or restrooms.
i Take it easy while at the park: stick
to trails and activities you’re familiar
with. If you get in over your head and get
injured or lost, that will further strain
our already thin resources.
i Take your trash with you when you
leave. Garbage service has been signifi-
cantly reduced and packing out what
you pack in is a huge help to park rang-
ers.
i With the weather heating up,
campfire restrictions may be in effect in
some state parks. Check campground
and trailhead notice boards for posted
fire restrictions, or call ahead to double
check. Fireworks are never allowed in
state parks or on the ocean shore.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors re-
porter, photographer and videographer
in Oregon for 12 years. To support his
work, subscribe to the Statesman Jour-
nal.
Urness is the author of “Best Hikes
with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking South-
ern Oregon.” He can be reached at zur-
ness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503)
399-6801. Find him on Twitter at
@ZachsORoutdoors.
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