In the previous newsletter, I emphasized how teamwork, trust, and collaboration within our Parks Division led to unparalleled accomplishments in 2025. To repeat a quote by Steve Rafuse, Lane County Parks Superintendent, “many hands make light work.” Now as we approach the fourth year of the levy, projects are coming to life before our eyes. Larger, more complex projects require careful planning, permitting, and design before construction happens. 2026 is the year when tangible improvements will transform your park experience. 

On the coast, beachgoers scrambling to park at the North Jetty will experience shock as decades-long potholes resembling moon craters, large enough to swallow a small car, will vanish before their eyes. After decades of neglect and quick fixes, the beach access and diving lots are ready for complete reconstruction, repaving, and striping as they are redesigned to significantly reduce the drainage issues that undermined previous repairs. 

We greatly appreciate the patience of campers and park visitors at Harbor Vista Campground and Camp Lane as the main restrooms and shower facilities were closed for several months while undergoing significant improvements this past winter. Both projects are wrapping up after receiving new roofs, floors, fixtures, lighting, and shower doors added to enhance the visitor experience.

In the valley, at Mount Pisgah, the bustling four-level (mostly) gravel parking area will undergo significant improvements. Gravel will become asphalt, parking spots more defined through striping, and connections between parking levels made safer and more accessible, as dedicated hikers climb from their cars to the main trail to the summit. Space within the lower level will be redesigned to include proper ADA parking and an accessible pathway to the Arboretum trailhead. 

Planning is underway to build a fully ADA accessible route, designed to provide access for visitors using wheelchairs to connect with the Coast Fork of the Willamette River from a viewing area and adaptive launch site at the water’s edge. This project is several years away, but will be a notable feature, as we strive to reduce physical barriers for all who choose to visit our beloved parks.

At Armitage Campground, both the large and small dog off-leash areas are temporarily closed to the public. We have more details on the safety and accessibility improvements in this newsletter! Please bear with us as facilities are closed during construction. It will be worth the wait!

Along the McKenzie, Lane County Parks is excited to celebrate our first major levy-funded construction project with a ribbon-cutting at Eagle Rock Park! An incredible transformation will be unveiled as we celebrate the reconstruction of a treasured location once devastated by the Holiday Farm Fire. This newsletter includes photos of the finished picnic shelter and a look at the remarkable progress at this special place. We look forward to seeing everyone enjoy the park as part of their float down the river!

Brett Henry - Parks Division Manager

Armitage Park Dog Park & Entrance Improvements 

We had a great time meeting the dogs of Armitage Park and their parents while sharing information about upcoming improvements. Lane County Parks is making important improvements at Armitage Park, thanks to funding from the 2022 Parks Levy. The project will provide a separate entrance, so large vehicles will no longer have to pass through the dog park area, improving safety for everyone.

The dog park will also receive two covered pavilions to provide shelter from rain, along with ADA pathways, lighting, parking lot paving, and improved vehicle circulation.

The dog park will be closed during construction. The closure started March 9th and is expected to be done by the end of May.

Here are some nearby alternatives to exercise your dog during the closure:

• Alton Baker Dog Park
• Amazon Dog Park
• Candlelight Park
• Lone Oak Park
• Jefferson Park
• Morse Ranch Park
• Willamalane Lively Dog Park
• Washington Jefferson Dog Park

We appreciate your patience during these upgrades as we look forward to a safer and more accessible park. Keep an eye on our Levy Projects page for updates on this and other projects.

Eagle Rock Upgrades

We’re excited to announce the completion of the picnic shelter at Eagle Rock Park. A big thank-you to our regular park users at Helfrich Rafting for the wonderful shoutout - it's more meaningful coming from them!

"Accessibility matters - on and off the river.

We’re excited to see Lane County Parks prioritizing ADA-compliant improvements at Eagle Rock Park, including accessible parking, pathways, improved river access, and a new shaded picnic shelter with integrated seating. These thoughtful updates help ensure this beloved riverside space can be enjoyed by everyone in our community. Big thanks to Lane County Parks for investing in inclusive outdoor spaces 👏

Picnic lunch with the group at the river has always been part of the magic. Before the improvements at Eagle Rock Park, we brought the tables ourselves to make it happen. The new covered picnic area and accessibility upgrades are going to be such a gift for large groups of all kinds." Helfrich Rafting



Hendricks Bridge Restoration Update – Have you noticed the changes?



If you've been spending time at Hendricks Bridge you may have noticed with the blackberry and ivy gone, the area looks a little more open and you may have spotted ivy on some trees turning brown. Last year, the Sheriff’s work crew cut the ivy vines around the base of many trees to stop them from climbing covering the trees. It’s now easy to see which vines we missed, and our team will be back through to finish the job so the trees have a better chance to thrive.

Since the invasive plants were removed, we’re already seeing encouraging signs of recovery. Our Natural Area Coordinator has spotted bleeding hearts and Pacific waterleaf coming up in areas that were previously covered in ivy and blackberries. We’ve seen similar results at Armitage Park, where native plants are returning after blackberry removal. Along the river at Hendricks Bridge, youth crews planted native species last year, and snowberry and thimbleberry have shown the strongest survival so far.

Youth Services recently removed plants that didn’t make it and replanted the area, and we’re hopeful that getting plants in the ground earlier - and starting watering sooner - will improve success this season. We’re grateful for the volunteers who helped water new plantings last year, and we’ll be looking for help again this year to keep the restoration growing strong.

Springtime at Zumwalt

Have you visited Zumwalt Park in the spring and wondered why some grassy areas of the park have been left un-mowed?

The historic, 250-year-old Ellmaker Oak tree overlooks a place where the native wildflowers, such as common camas, rose checkermallow, mule’s ears, and even the ladie’s tresses orchid, all tell a story.

It is a story of a place that has for thousands of years been part of the 1.5 million acres of Willamette Valley prairie and savanna that once existed (less than 200 years ago).

The prairie and savanna plants are inexorably linked to the culture of the Kalapuya people, who have maintained these habitats with fire and in return have been provided with food, fiber, and medicine. But now, less than 10% of this habitat remains.



When the Ellmaker family settled here in the 1850’s the land provided space for crops and forage for livestock, but certain areas but certain areas were less intensively managed, so prairie flowers were able to survive.

Now, appropriately timed mowing, which allows the wildflowers to bloom and set seed, benefits the native prairie species by maintaining the open grassy environment in the absence of fire.

Let us know what you see blooming this spring!

Decade of the Oak

This year, Lane County Parks is excited to take part in A Decade of the Oak, a regional campaign highlighting the importance of oak and prairie habitats. Big thanks to Pacific Birds and the Pacific Northwest Oak Alliance for bringing these stories together to share how we can help conserve these rare landscapes.

One of our most visible examples is Howard Buford Recreation Area, our largest park. Today, less than 10% of the Willamette Valley’s historic prairie, savanna, and oak woodland habitat remains. Howard Buford Recreation Area protects more than 1,000 acres, making it one of the largest remaining areas of this habitat under single ownership in the Willamette Valley.

Throughout the year, we’ll be sharing stories about oak conservation, habitat restoration, and the partners working to protect these special places. We encourage you to follow Decade of the Oak to learn how organizations across the region are working together to conserve this valuable habitat.

Coyote Activity

We’re lucky to share our parks and natural areas with wildlife, and seeing animals like coyotes is a normal part of spending time outdoors. These spaces are their home, and with a little awareness, we can safely enjoy them together.

If you encounter a coyote or recreate in an area where coyotes are present, please remember:

• Scare coyotes away with loud noise, clapping, etc.
• Supervise small children when outside
• Do not leave food or water bowls outside or feed wildlife
• Keep dogs leashed

If you encounter wildlife acting unusually or aggressively, please report it to the parks office at 541-682-2000.

Thank you for helping keep both people and wildlife safe.

Marina Openings

April 1 | Richardson Park - Fern Ridge

April 1 | Orchard Point Park - Fern Ridge

May 1 | Baker Bay Park - Dorena Lake

Moorage slip reservations open on April 1st. To secure a spot, visit our online reservation portal 24-7, our office or call 541-682-2000 weekdays between 9 am – 4 pm on or after April 1.

Seasonal Campgrounds

Open April 10

Archie Knowles

Baker Bay

Richardson

Armitage and Harbor Vista are open year-round.

To secure a spot, visit our online reservation portal 24-7, our office or call 541-682-2000 weekdays between 9 am – 4 pm.

New Parks Map

We heard your requests and we’ve created a new Lane County Parks paper map. The updated map shows parks across the system, and a annual parking pass is valid at all of them.

This project was made possible thanks to levy funding, which has increased staffing and allowed us to catch up on long-requested improvements like this one. You can download it here or stop by the parks office to pick one up.

We’re also working with our GIS team to update our online interactive map, making it easier to explore parks from anywhere.

Northwest Youth Corps Making

a Difference in Our Parks

This spring, we’re happy to welcome Northwest Youth Corps – Eugene Urban Community Forestry crews to stay in our parks while they serve communities throughout Lane County. Providing camping for these crews is one small way we can support the important work they do.

You may have noticed the work they did removing blackberries along the Crilly Nature Trail at Armitage this fall. This spring they will be lending a hand with restoration efforts at Hendricks Bridge Park and Howard Buford Recreation Area.

Their days are spent working alongside county, city, and recreation partners to care for the natural areas so many of us enjoy. We’re grateful for their energy, their commitment, and the positive impact they make each season.

Clearing the Way at Orchard Point

The Lane County Sheriff's Work Crew partners with Parks each month to tackle important improvement projects across the county.

In February, they beat rising water levels to clear invasive blackberries from the breakwater at Orchard Point Park - a project requested by the Triton Yacht Club and local moorage holders to improve visibility and safety. They also helped with blackberries at Armitage Park along the Crilly Nature Trail.

The Sheriff’s Work Crew program is an alternative to incarceration that allows eligible offenders to complete supervised community service while serving their sentence. Work crews support local governments, park systems, and non-profits by assisting with vegetation control, park and trail maintenance, and litter removal.

Mount Pisgah Arboretum’s

Wildflower Festival - May 19

Join the Mount Pisgah Arboretum on Sunday, May 17 for the 2026 Wildflower Festival!

Enjoy 200+ local wildflower species on display, live music, guided nature walks, the Art in Nature Trail, and local food and craft vendors.

Tickets and volunteer details coming soon.

Arboretum members receive free admission -become a member anytime to enjoy this benefit.

Our First Stewardship Saturday of the Year!

We’re excited to kick off the first Stewardship Saturday of the year - a monthly Volunteer Work Party with Lane County Parks!

From March through October, volunteers will join parks staff for hands-on projects like trail upkeep, landscaping, painting, habitat restoration, and other improvements that make a real difference. It’s a great way to spend a Saturday outdoors, connect with others, and support the parks you love.

March Stewardship Saturday

Partnering with Oregon Dunes Restoration Collaborative, we’ll be at North Jetty Park, Florence OR on:

🗓 Saturday, March 28

⏰ 10:00 AM – Noon

We’ll be removing invasive Scotch broom near the North Jetty.

👉 Visit our webpage for full event details, what to bring, and weather updates.

📅 Mark your calendars for upcoming Stewardship Saturdays:

• April 18 – Kinney Park

• May 30 – Armitage Park

We hope you’ll join us for this first work party of the season! 🌲

Adopt-a-Park Work Parties

Our Adopt-a-Park groups stay active year-round, and there are always ways to lend a hand. Check out the upcoming work parties below and see where you can jump in.

Friends of Zumwalt - A favorite destination for dog lovers, Friends of Zumwalt Park have been caring for the park since 2007. Join them on select Saturdays from 9–11 am to help maintain trails and remove invasive species. 



• March 28
• April 11 and 25
• May 9 and 23

Santa Clara Community Foundation - This community group came together to steward Hileman Park since 2021. The natural area is a great place to walk your dog, cool off in the river or birdwatch. Volunteers meet the last Saturday of the month at 9:30 am.

• March 28
• April 25
• May 30

Keep an eye on our events calendar for more information! 

Hileman Volunteer Work Party | March 28

Zumwalt Volunteer Work Party | March 28

North Jetty Volunteer Work Party | March 28

Parks Advisory Committee | April 13, May 11, & June 8

Friends of Buford Park Plant Sale | May 2

Mount Pisgah Arboretum's Wildflower Festival | May 17