Here are some important questions answered about the Oregon Park opening today!
This week we will be seeing the first of many openings after a long few months of our “Stay at Home” orders. With the onset of beautiful weather, several Oregon recreation areas and parks are beginning to reopen with limited day use access.
Gov. Kate Brown announced the limited opening of some state parks, outdoor recreation facilities and natural areas throughout Oregon starting Tuesday.
What about camping? Can we finally get our beloved Teardrop trailers out in their natural elements?
Camping opportunities will also become available as federal, state, local and private providers are able to prepare their facilities for visitors, according to Brown’s office. Although ski season is over, ski resorts will also be able to resume activities soon under a forthcoming executive order.
“Enjoying Oregon’s beauty and bounty is one of our state’s time-honored traditions,” Brown said in a press release. “As we begin to slowly open up recreation sites, state parks, and ski areas opportunities, it is critical we ensure the health and safety of staff, volunteers, and the public. And that begins with each of us taking personal responsibility to be good stewards of our parks, and each other.”
What Parks will be opened?
Today (May 6, 2020) the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will reopen eight inland state parks with limited daytime services starting Wednesday. It had closed access to state parks on March 23 to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus and help flatten the curve.
The parks reopening are:
- Tryon Creekin Portland
- Willamette Missionnorth of Keizer
- Mongold boat rampat Detroit Lake
- State Capitol Parkin Salem
- The Cove Palisades boat rampat Lake Billy Chinook near Culver
- Prineville Reservoir boat rampnear Prineville
- Joseph Stewart boat rampon Lost Creek Lake near Shady Cove
- Pilot Buttein Bend. Pilot Butte will allow pedestrians but will continue to be closed to vehicles.
Will more Parks be opening soon?
“We’re trying to move forward to offer more access to more parks but how we do it and the speed in which we do it, yes, these parks will tell us how successfully we can do that,” Havel said. “… To a very large degree, our success at offering limited access to parks is dictated by people cooperating.”
“We don’t want to welcome people back into a community that’s not ready for it,” Havel said. “… What happened in March, yeah, we don’t want to see that happen again because that will lead to closures.”
What will they be doing to keep us safe?
The parks that are being opened also needed to be prepared — which meant enough personal protective equipment for workers and enough cleaning supplies to keep facilities sanitized, Havel said.
These parks also met the department’s criteria for social distancing, as they were less likely to be overrun with visitors.
The department asked that people choose nearby state parks and avoid visiting those requiring long trips. Havel said staying local makes the decision to go home and come back easier as opposed to just joining large crowds.
What about the Coast or Columbia Gorge?
Congested areas like the coast and the Columbia River Gorge may be the last areas to reopen because of their popularity and the importance of community readiness for the large crowds of people.
Although it seems like it might not be the news we were hoping for, it does look like we all might be able to get outside in some areas to enjoy our beautiful state.
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