STATE PARKS AND RECREATION BACKGROUND BRIEF LPRO: Legislative Policy and Research Office

Oregon’s state park system originated in 1921 parks, beaches, habitat and watershed when the State Highway Commission was protection. The 15 percent is split 50/50 authorized to acquire properties dedicated to between OPRD and the Oregon Watershed the protection of roadside forests and scenery. Enhancement Board. In order to maintain The legislature expanded that authority in lottery funding, Oregon voters had to 1925 to include acquisition, improvement, reauthorize the constitutionally dedicated maintenance and supervision lottery funds by 2014. Measure of land for parks, parking CONTENTS 76, approved by voters in places, camp sites, public 2010, amended the Oregon squares and recreation OREGON STATE PARK SYSTEM Constitution to continue the grounds. In addition, the dedication of 7.5 percent of legislature in 1925 authorized TRAILS PROGRAMS net lottery fund revenues to the use of state highway funds OPRD. Today, lottery funds for these purposes, so in these WATER TRAILS account for approximately one- early years, state highway third of OPRD’s biennial funds from gasoline taxes, GRANT PROGRAMS budget and, along with state private land donations and park user fees and recreational federal funds provided the HERITAGE PROGRAMS vehicle license fees, are a necessary funding to grow the primary funding source for the system to a network of over STATE FAIR AND EXPO agency. 200 park areas. CENTER OPRD’s responsibilities During the early 1980s, voters include managing Oregon’s removed the park system from STATE PARK FUNDING system of state parks, as well as the State Highway Fund. In ocean shores, natural areas, response, the legislature in STAFF CONTACTS scenic waterways, recreation 1989 created the Oregon trails, state recreation areas Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) as and historic, archeological and cultural an entity separate from the Oregon preservation programs. The State Parks and Department of Transportation. Throughout Recreation Commission (Commission) sets the 1990s, General Fund support for OPRD policy and approves major actions of OPRD. declined as other demands for state moneys The seven Commission members are increased. appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. In 1998, voters approved Measure 66, which amended the constitution and dedicated 15 In May 2004, Governor Ted Kulongoski percent of Oregon Lottery funds to state announced a new goal for OPRD – to create

STATE PARKS AND RECREATION PAGE 1 OF 6 SEPTEMBER 2016 STATE PARKS AND RECREATION one new state park per year for the next 10 350 specialty sites (including yurts, log years. In 2004, OPRD broke ground on Stub cabins, tepees and horse camp units); Stewart State Park in Washington County, the  state's first new full-service state park in 30 Day-use areas at nearly all state parks; and years, which opened in 2007. OPRD has  Facilities that include 57 reservable day- moved forward with Governor Kulongoski’s use areas at 17 parks, and 39 reservable goal, opening: picnic shelters at 24 parks.  Sunset Beach State Park on the northern Other recreation facilities include ocean Oregon coast in 2005; beach access, recreation trails, boating and  Fort Yamhill near Grand Ronde in 2006; fishing docks, and river access points. Special  Thompson's Mills historic site south of facilities include: Albany in 2007;  Crissey Field near Brookings in 2008;  Silver Falls conference center, youth camp  Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site near and group indoor, overnight facilities; Joseph in 2009;  Eleven group meeting halls;  Beaver Creek State Natural Area near Waldport in 2010;  Eight interpretive centers/museums; and  Bates State Park northeast of John Day in  Two historic inns. 2011; and  Cottonwood Canyon State Park southeast OPRD also manages Oregon’s 382 miles of of The Dalles in 2013. ocean shores, as well as the Willamette River Greenway (3,838 OPRD-managed acres). In September 2014, OPRD purchased a 357- acre property on the northern coast, and is in There are numerous volunteer opportunities the process of developing a master plan for available through OPRD, including Park what will be Oregon’s newest state park – Host, Adopt-A-Park, Friends’ groups, Junior Sitka Sedge Natural Area. Rangers and annual clean-up programs.

OREGON STATE PARK SYSTEM The park system serves more than 42 million people a year, among the top in the nation, OPRD manages a park system that and generates an estimated $735 million a encompasses 108,654 acres (as of June 2013), year in community economic benefits. and includes the following: TRAILS PROGRAMS  Over 250 park areas, 219 of which have developed facilities and/or other OPRD manages a number of different trail improvements; programs offering a variety of recreational opportunities throughout Oregon.  Fifty-five campgrounds (28 open year- round and 38 have reservable sites that Oregon Recreation Trails Advisory charge an overnight site rental fee); Council  Approximately 5,500 standard campsites The Oregon Recreation Trails Advisory (including improved tent, primitive and Council (ORTAC) was established in 1971 as hook-up sites) 48 group camp areas, and part of the Oregon Recreation Trails System

STATE PARKS AND RECREATION PAGE 2 OF 6 SEPTEMBER 2016 STATE PARKS AND RECREATION Act. The impetus of the Act was to provide Scenic Trail designation provide access to for the ever-increasing outdoor recreation national, state or regional scenic resources of needs of an expanding resident and tourist superlative quality. They may be a single trail population and to promote public access to or combination of trails, over one mile in the outdoor gems of Oregon. length, and must be open to the public and substantially complete. Scenic Trails lie on ORTAC consists of seven members; at least public lands or public rights-of-way or one from each congressional district and not easements. ORTAC reviews applications less than two members from separate counties submitted by local scenic trail proponents and bordering upon the ocean shore. Members of makes recommendations to the Commission ORTAC are appointed by the Commission, for scenic trail designation. Current serve at the pleasure of the Commission for designations include 15 sections of the four-year terms and are eligible for Oregon Coast Trail, the Metolius-Windigo reappointment. ORTAC designates state Trail in Deschutes County and the Sterling significant trails to highlight the best urban Ditch Mine Trail in Jackson County. and scenic trails in Oregon. REGIONAL TRAILS SCENIC BIKEWAYS Oregon Regional Trails are non-motorized An Oregon Scenic Bikeway is a designated trails that provide close-to-home recreational bike route on existing roads and paths that opportunities while connecting communities, provides access to national, state or regional recreation sites, schools and other resources. The route is on public lands, rights- destinations with other significant of-way, or on existing easements on private trails. Regional trails are over five miles in property and open to the public. The length, open to the public, substantially volunteer, 11-member Scenic Bikeway complete, and lie on public lands or public Committee reviews applications submitted by rights-of-way or easements. local bikeway proponents and makes recommendations to ORTAC for bikeway ORTAC reviews applications submitted by designation. local regional trail proponents and makes recommendations to the Commission for Oregon’s Scenic Bikeways program is regional trail designation. There are currently intended to offer the best of Oregon’s scenic, 5 designated Oregon Regional Trails: historic, natural and cultural experiences – from the seat of a bike. Each Bikeway is  Bear Creek Greenway Trail (Jackson categorized according to its level of difficulty County); as mild, moderate, challenging or extreme. Each Bikeway has a ride description and route  OC&E Woods Line State Trail (Klamath information, and more information can be County); found at the RideOregonRide webpage.  40-Mile Loop Trail (Portland Metro Area); SCENIC TRAILS  Banks-Vernonia State Trail (Washington and Columbia Counties); and An Oregon Scenic Trail is a non-motorized trail that provides access to outstanding  Willow Creek Canyon Trail (Jefferson scenery. Those routes chosen for Oregon County).

STATE PARKS AND RECREATION PAGE 3 OF 6 SEPTEMBER 2016 STATE PARKS AND RECREATION WATER TRAILS botanical, cultural and outdoor recreation opportunities. They are the first additions to Water trails are stretches of rivers, shorelines, the program since 1988. or lakes that have been mapped out with the intent to create an educational, scenic and GRANT PROGRAMS rewarding experience for recreational OPRD provides both funding assistance and canoeists and kayakers. OPRD defines water outreach to Oregon’s local communities trails as “corridors between specific locations through a series of grant programs. OPRD on a lake, river or ocean.” Water trails are currently administers five recreation grant primarily designed for small watercraft such as programs and six heritage grant programs, canoes, kayaks, rafts and drift boats and offer which combined give millions of dollars a variety of challenge levels. They must include annually to grant project sponsors. The safe public put-in and take-out sites, parking, recreation grant programs are intended to restrooms and, in some cases, day-use sites and help acquire, develop, rehabilitate and overnight campsites. There are currently 9 maintain local parks. They also help advance designated water trails in Oregon. the development of recreational trails and STATE SCENIC WATERWAYS PROGRAM provide supplementary funding for hiking, biking, and equestrian use and for all-terrain Oregonians decided to protect special vehicle (ATV) recreational projects. Current waterways in 1970 when they voted two-to-one grant programs include: to establish the Oregon Scenic Waterways Program. The program seeks to balance ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE (ATV) GRANTS protection and wise use through cooperation Provides funding for off-highway vehicle between federal, state and local agencies as (OHV) recreation, including operating and well as individual property owners and those maintaining public OHV areas; acquiring, who recreate along a waterway. The program planning and developing new OHV areas; currently includes 21 rivers, totaling 1,177 hiring law enforcement and emergency miles, and Waldo Lake. Under direction from services; and promoting ATV safety the legislature (ORS 390.855), OPRD is education. Grant funds come from ATV user required to periodically study new waterways permit sales and a percentage of gasoline tax for potential inclusion in the program. money. To assess the eligibility of waterways for inclusion in the program, the following COUNTY OPPORTUNITY GRANTS general criteria are established in state law: free-flowing nature of the waterway; scenic Awarded to Oregon counties for acquiring, quality (as viewed from the river); and natural developing, rehabilitating and planning park and recreational resources (including the and recreation sites that provide, or will ability of the waterway and its setting to provide, camping. sustain recreational use). HERITAGE PROGRAM GRANTS In 2016, Governor Kate Brown designated Provides funding for various types of historic two new State Scenic Waterways on portions preservation and heritage-related projects of the Chetco and Molalla Rivers for their through various grant programs: Preserving outstanding scenic, fish, wildlife, geological,

STATE PARKS AND RECREATION PAGE 4 OF 6 SEPTEMBER 2016 STATE PARKS AND RECREATION Oregon Grants, Certified Local Government recommendations to guide federal, state and Grants, Historic Cemetery Grants, Heritage local units of government, as well as the Grants, Museum Grants and Veterans’ and private sector, in making policy and planning War Memorial Grants. decisions. Besides satisfying grant program requirements, a primary intent of the plan is LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION to provide up-to-date, high-quality FUND (LWCF) GRANTS information to assist recreation providers with trail planning in Oregon. Further, it These federally funded grants provide state establishes a review process for potential State and local governments funding for acquiring Scenic Waterway corridor additions. and developing public outdoor recreation areas. HERITAGE PROGRAMS LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS OPRD’s Heritage Programs Division, which Funded from voter-awarded Oregon Lottery includes the State Historic Preservation money, these grants go to projects that Office, Heritage Commission and the Oregon acquire, develop or rehabilitate parks and Commission on Historic Cemeteries, operates recreation areas and facilities. a number of cultural and historic preservation programs. This division is also in charge of RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM administering the National Historic (RTP) GRANTS Preservation Act, archaeological site assessments and permits and related state and These federally funded grants provide awards federal tax incentive programs. for recreation trail-related projects such as hiking, running, bicycling, off-road STATE FAIR AND EXPO CENTER motorcycling and ATV riding. To remain qualified for federal Land and The Oregon State Fair began in 1858 as an Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) funding, agricultural exhibition and expanded in 1977 OPRD prepares a Statewide Comprehensive to include an exposition center. In 2005, the Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) every five legislature merged the Fair and Exposition years. In Oregon, the plan functions not only Center. However, in 2013 the legislature to guide the LWCF program, but also passed Senate Bill 7, transitioning the Oregon provides guidance for other OPRD- State Fair and Exposition Center from a state administered grant programs. It also provides agency to a public corporation administered recommendations to the Oregon State Park by the Oregon State Fair Council. The System operations, administration, planning, Council assumed responsibility for Fair and development and recreation programs. Expo Center operations from OPRD in 2014. OPRD recently completed a statewide 10-year STATE PARK FUNDING plan for recreational trail management, entitled Oregon Trails 2016: A Vision for the The 2015-17 legislatively adopted OPRD Future. The plan guides the use of the state’s budget of $201.9 million is distributed as Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and ATV follows: grant funds, and provides information and  Direct Services: $99 million (49 percent)

STATE PARKS AND RECREATION PAGE 5 OF 6 SEPTEMBER 2016 STATE PARKS AND RECREATION  Community Support and Grants: $37 STAFF CONTACTS million (18 percent) Beth Patrino  Central Services: $34.4 million (17 Legislative Policy and Research Office percent) 503-986-1751  Park Development: $25.1 million (12 [email protected] percent) Beth Reiley  Director’s Office: $4.8 million (2 percent) Legislative Policy and Research Office The 2015-17 legislatively adopted revenues of 503-986-1755 $237.4 million are distributed as follows: [email protected]

 Oregon Lottery: $84.7 million (36 Please note that the Legislative Policy and Research percent) Office provides centralized, nonpartisan research  Park User Fees: $44.0 million (18 percent) and issue analysis for Oregon’s legislative branch. The Legislative Policy and Research Office does not  Beginning Balance: $39.4 million (17 provide legal advice. Background Briefs contain percent) general information that is current as of the date of  Other: $25 million (10 percent) publication. Subsequent action by the legislative, executive or judicial branches may affect accuracy.  RV Registrations: $19 million (8 percent)  Federal: $12.3 million (5 percent)  ATV: $9.2 million (4 percent)  Trust & Dedicated Funds: $3.7 million (1 percent)

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