Since the state has agreed to spend $50 million in park improvements over the next two years, the popular Silver Falls, Smith Rock, and other Oregon state parks are being upgraded. 

The $50 million comes from the general obligation bond approved by the Oregon State Legislature in July 2021. With this money, camping opportunities will expand. The statewide parks will also undergo infrastructure upgrades, new developments and other improvements. 

Central Park Service Manager Matt Lippi said: "These projects have been on the list for some time, but this [bond] allows us to do all the work at once, which is unprecedented."

Construction will begin in two waves. The first construction projects, including Silver Falls, are expected to begin in the fall of 2022 and must be completed within three years of receiving funding. 

The goal of Silver Falls State Park is to expand the recreational activities around the 136-foot North Falls, which has far fewer visitors than the rest of the park.

The park will receive more campsites and improve infrastructure for water supply, power supply and sewer systems. This project is one of the most expensive projects on the list, at US$8-10 million. 

The main focus is to create the North Falls complex. This new space will include a campground with showers and toilets, a new trail to North Falls, a North Gateway Visitor Center and a larger parking lot.

"The new hiking trail is a feature, and the new infrastructure will support that feature," said Guy Rodriguez, Silver Falls Park Manager.

North Falls has far fewer visitors than the popular South Falls area because it is not connected to the rest of the park. The project will disperse millions of people who visit the park every year, thereby reducing the pressure on the South Falls area, which may be flooded by tourists, especially in summer. 

"In addition to providing additional entertainment opportunities, the main goal is to ease the pressure in the South Falls area," Rodriguez said. 

According to Rodriguez, the North Falls complex was first proposed in 2009, but the project is in a state of uncertainty due to lack of funding.

In 2019, construction of the first phase of the complex began, and a new entrance to the waterfall is planned to be connected to the trail of ten waterfalls. The plan also includes upgrading the parking lot and waterfall viewing platform. This is expected to be completed in 2022, but further development such as visitor centers and campgrounds will not increase until the next few years. 

Rodrigue said that funds from general obligation bonds will "speed up the process." It will allow these developments in Silver Falls at a faster rate. 

Other projects on the list include building restoration and utility upgrades at Stevensburg State Park, a new visitor center in Smith Rock, more camping opportunities in Champogg, and Cape Lookout facilities and infrastructure upgrades.

The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission approved the project list on November 17. Park officials said that with the development of the official plan for each park, these proposals may change slightly, but not much. 

An internal team created a list of projects based on various factors and extensive discussions. OPRD spokesperson Chris Havel (Chris Havel) said that they look for the highest priority projects, these projects can be completed within the specified time, and people will benefit the most. 

Some selected projects are in critical condition and need to be upgraded as soon as possible. This is the case with Cape Lookout. 

"Due to the environmental conditions on the coast, many of them are on the coast," Lippi said. "This is a harsh environment, and we also saw our highest traffic there."

Officials say another priority is to "expand and strengthen" the services provided by state parks. They want to provide more services and make entertainment more accessible in certain areas, such as in Champaign and Silver Falls. 

"We want to expand the opportunities for camping in the Willamette Valley, where most Oregonians live, so they can experience our leisure activities near their homes," Lippi said.

Historical restoration is another important priority for these funds, as shown in the planned restoration of Stevensburg. Havel said that some areas in the state park system exist "because they tell a story," and OPRD wants to ensure that these areas remain accessible and restored. 

Half of the funds will arrive in May 2022, the OPRD Centennial Year, and the other half will arrive in March 2023 a year later. This will stagger the start and end times of the project. 

Havel said it is rare to receive such money because the department is not funded by taxes. OPRD's money usually comes from lottery funds, license fees and their own services. Javier said the money is limited, which makes it difficult for them to do such a larger project.

Many of these projects are things OPRD has always wanted to do, but with their regular budget, they cannot make so many major improvements in a typical year. 

Havel said: "It is really gratifying and helpful to have the support of the legislature."

Beverly Beach Parkwide Rehabilitation: Upgrade the outdated electrical system of the entire campsite, and upgrade the campsite. The current general obligation bond is estimated to be USD 3-5 million. 

Champoeg State Heritage Area Camping Expansion: Add a new camping loop, riverside cabins and restrooms/shower rooms, as well as possible upgrades to the current drainage area or development of additional drainage areas and possible upgrades to the electricity and water supply system. The current general obligation bond is estimated to be USD 3-5 million. 

Stevensburg State Park Guardhouse restoration: adding new roof and roof structure, repositioning bricks and replacing doors and windows, as well as completing external passage improvements, utilities and landscape improvements to prevent leaks in the basement, and upgrading water, sewers and electrical connect. The current general obligation bonds are estimated at 1-3 million US dollars.

Stevensburg State Park Public Utilities: Upgraded utility services to four campground loops, including improvements to electricity, water and wastewater utilities, and wastewater lift stations. Replacing the shower/toilet in 1955, upgrading other restrooms and replacing the restrooms in the Peter Iredale daytime area. The current general obligation bond is estimated to be 6-8 million US dollars.

Jinhuazhong National Heritage Site Interpretation Center and Collection Building: Expand the park through the acquisition of urban park properties, and build new facilities to accommodate visitors/interpretation centers and collection materials. The current general obligation bond is estimated to be USD 3-5 million.

Expansion of restrooms and parking lot in Portland Women's Forum National Scenic Area: Construct restroom building and expand parking lot at Portland Women's Forum. The preliminary design work of toilets and 100-car parking spaces that meet the requirements of the National Scenic Area has been completed. The current general obligation bonds are estimated at 2-4 million US dollars.

Silver Falls State Park Camping Expansion & North Falls Complex: Begin development of the North Gate, which includes a campground with toilet/shower facilities, a North Gate Visitor Center, and a new North Canyon trail and parking lot. Infrastructure improvements including water, electricity, and sewer systems, as well as the relocation of the current RV dump. The current general obligation bond is estimated to be US$8-10 million.

Smith Rock State Park Visitor Center and Traffic Congestion: Build a new visitor center and restrooms, complete electrical upgrades, and improve parking/traffic to meet current and future visitor needs. Efforts include some path improvements. The current general obligation bond is estimated to be 4-6 million US dollars.

Cape Lookout State Park: Relocate the A and B loops to higher ground, including new roads, new infrastructure, and toilet/shower facilities. Remove facilities that have disappeared due to ocean erosion. The current general obligation bond is estimated to be US$8-10 million.

Milo McIver State Park: Add a second loop with toilet/shower facilities in the campground. Upgrade the sewer and water supply system in the park. The current water supply system provides water to the park and the Oregon fish and wildlife hatchery in the park. The current general obligation bond is estimated to be USD 3-5 million.

Nehalam Bay State Park full park upgrade and yurt loop: upgrade existing utilities in the three loops. Add new hut loops, tent camps, and new campsite toilets in the campsite. Add seasonal employee housing and upgrade to several daytime facilities. The current general obligation bond is estimated to be 5-8 million US dollars.

Oregon Parks and Recreation will waive a $5 parking fee in state parks across Oregon on November 26 to enable people to go outdoors.

There are 25 state parks that usually charge daytime parking fees, and each park will be waived from open to closed the day after Thanksgiving. In the past few years, OPRD has celebrated what they call "Green Friday" to encourage people to spend time in state parks for the busiest shopping day of the year. 

"Outdoor activities provide everyone with a place to escape epidemics and holiday stress," said OPRD Director Lisa Sumption. 

Eddy Binford-Ross is an outdoor intern at The Statesman Magazine. Contact her at ebinfordross@statesmanjournal.com or follow @eddybinfordross on Twitter.