As summer is coming to an end, I reflect on a renewed culture and connectiveness among the amazing folks that work within the Lane County Parks Division. This culture is reflected in the positive transformation our parks are undergoing and the joy I see on the faces of the thousands of park visitors we’ve served during a frenetic yet fulfilling summer recreation season. September and October are transition months that allow us to take a beat to come together through our annual retreat at the height of peak fall colors at Camp Lane.

In this message I must recognize several employees who are extraordinary in so many ways as they exuberate positive energy and selflessness in their own unique ways. According to researchers, workplace culture and communication is the leading factor to happiness and motivation that fuels job satisfaction. Over the past two years, Parks has nearly doubled the workforce bringing in new faces and allowing for well-earned promotions to new roles within the organization.

Tara King is the glue that is the central pivot to our organization. Her deep empathy and care for each of her coworkers is displayed through her connections with each of us and recognition of birthdays, coworkers becoming new fathers, and those needing a shoulder to cry on for support and comfort. Also, she is the primary facilitator of our “Chocolate Mondays”.

One of those new faces is Steve Rafuse. I marvel at how he’s adapted quickly to a very challenging role as Parks Superintendent. As head of park operations and project management, he has a unique gift to effectively get things done while uplifting those around him with his charm, whit and leadership skills. I owe a huge debt of gratitude for the versatility he brings to the division. Steve compliments my leadership style perfectly and has willingly given his time to support all of us with his talents and creative thinking.

Lastly, it difficult to explain through words the contribution that Maintenance Supervisor Ed Lutz brings to the division. Ed has excelled in his new role as his tremendous leadership skills are impacting our culture in so many positive ways. I have received too many complimentary comments from the public and the staff that I don’t have the space to add to this newsletter. Ed sets the example through his willingness to roll up his sleeves and snake a sewer line, organize the work responsibilities of the maintenance staff in Wednesday morning meetings, contribute his knowledge in leadership meetings, and encourage his employees to learn new skills and take risks to better their careers.

Tara, Steve, and Ed are certainly not the only contributors to the positive culture shift. From my vantage point, I’ve witnessed every single employee actively engaged in fulfilling their roles with skill and panache. What stands out is their willingness to go above and beyond their duties as public servants to make a positive and lasting impact on their community and the organization they represent. 

Brett Henry | Division Manager

Fire Management at Howard Buford Recreation Area

This fall, Lane County Parks, Friends of Buford Park and partners will conduct prescribed burns at Howard Buford Recreation Area (HBRA) to help restore rare native habitats and reduce wildfire risk.

The Willamette Valley once supported more than 1.5 million acres of prairie, savanna, and oak woodland—habitats maintained for thousands of years by the cultural burning practices of the Kalapuya people. Today, less than 10% remains, and HBRA protects over 1,000 acres—one of the largest remaining areas of this habitat under single ownership in the Willamette Valley. Prescribed fire helps these landscapes thrive by reducing the growth of shrubs and trees, supporting the growth of native grasses and wildflowers and controlling invasive plants. It also lowers fuel loads that can contribute to severe wildfires.

Safety is the top priority. Burns are conducted with experienced partners, under strict weather and air-quality conditions, and with appropriate fire crews and equipment on site. The lower fuel load in these areas produce less smoke than wildfires or agriculture burns, and nearby neighbors are notified in advance. On burn days, only trails next to the burn units will close; the rest of the park—including the summit trail—will remain open.

If conditions allow, burns will take place between September 15 and October 31, 2025.

The four units at (including in the Arboretum, North and South Bottomlands, Ponderosa, and Meadowlark East Management Units) are all in prairie or savanna habitats that have been burned in the past. To learn more about how the areas are prepped to mitigate risk prior to burning read the Friends of Buford Park’s recent newsletter here.

If you are interested in volunteering through our Rivers to Ridges partnership as a Trail Sentinel, securing the area and informing park visitors about the burn fill out the interest form here.  

Updates on dates and trail closures will be shared on our website and social media accounts. 

Help with Tick Research at Howard Buford Recreation Area

If you’re hiking at Howard Buford Recreation Area/Mount Pisgah this season, you may notice special collection stations at the main arboretum trailhead and the east trailhead. These stations are part of a Colorado State University research project studying how wildfire management practices affect ticks, wildlife, and public health. Ticks can carry diseases that affect people and pets, such as Lyme disease. By studying how wildfire mitigation practices influence tick populations, researchers hope to better understand both disease risks and land management strategies.

How you can help:



When you finish your hike, stop by a collection station and take a moment to participate:

If you found a tick

• Use the tweezers to remove it.
• Place the tick in the test tube.
• Fill out the “I found a tick” survey (in the envelope with tweezers + test tube).
• Drop the envelope in the box.

If you didn’t find a tick

• Fill out the “I didn’t find a tick” survey (survey-only envelope).
• Drop the envelope in the box.



Even if you don’t find a tick, filling out the short survey is just as important. It helps researchers measure how often visitors are not encountering ticks—an essential piece of the puzzle.

Researchers are also collecting ticks directly from vegetation and using cameras to monitor both large animals like deer and smaller creatures such as mice and lizards. Together, these efforts help show how wildlife and land management shape tick populations and disease risk.

Your participation helps scientists understand how wildfire management affects ticks, wildlife, and public health. Next time you’re at the park fill out a survey - every response counts, tick or no tick.

At Lane County Parks, our parks and campgrounds wouldn’t be the same without the dedication of our caretakers and volunteer hosts. These amazing individuals give their time and energy to welcome visitors, care for our facilities, and help everyone feel at home in Lane County Parks.

Whether it’s greeting campers with a warm smile, answering questions, or keeping our spaces clean and inviting, they truly are the heart of our parks. Your efforts make every visit safer, more enjoyable, and memorable for everyone who comes to explore.

To all our hosts and caretakers—thank you. Your patience, kindness, and commitment make Lane County Parks a welcoming place, and we couldn’t do it without you.

Visit our webpage to learn more about being a volunteer Park Host!

Are you ready to make the beauty of Archie Knowles Campground part of your everyday life?

Our smallest campground, located in the Coast Range along Knowles Creek, this park is nestled among towering Douglas fir and western redcedar trees. Situated off Highway 126, Archie Knowles offers dry camping with a restroom and easy access to coastal attractions.

Lane County Parks is seeking to contract with an entity and/or individual(s) who will serve as Campground Caretaker(s) in a year-round position. Caretakers live in the campground full-time and help oversee day-to-day operations.



A full hook up site is provided with a one-year extendable contract. Archie Knowles Campground is open seasonally and located near Mapleton.

For more details and online application visit www.lanecounty.org/caretaker

The Lane County Parks levy helps Mount Pisgah Arboretum continue environmental education while expanding partnerships. The funding supports hands-on programs for kids, guided community nature tours, and other educational opportunities.

Discovery Tours for K–5 students reach thousands of young learners - 2,482 in 2024 alone - exploring trails, learning about local plants and wildlife, and discovering ways to care for the environment. More than 25 public nature tours welcomed visitors of all ages to slow down, look closer, and enjoy the beauty of the Mount Pisgah Arboretum.

One meaningful program is the collaboration with the Migrant Education Program, where Latinx teens are trained to lead nature education. It gives young people a chance to grow as leaders while sharing cultural connections outdoors.

Levy funding also helps the Arboretum strengthen partnerships with groups like Plaza Nuestra Comunidad, Willamette Resources & Educational Network (WREN), Beyond Toxics, and Nurturely - joining forces to create spaces where all can enjoy nature. With this ongoing support, the Arboretum can continue doing what it does best: bringing people and nature together, one walk, one tour, and one shared experience at a time.

Learn more about the Mount Pisgah Arboretum