Statewide Trails Plan workshop set in Bend

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department invites comments on the development of a statewide comprehensive trails plan at 14 workshops scheduled throughout the state in October, including Bend. on Oct 23.

Planning will cover motorized ATV trails, snowmobile trails, nonmotorized trails, water trails and state Scenic Waterways.

Trail users, representatives of outdoor recreation businesses and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend to provide feedback on regional trail issues and needs and to help identify trail development opportunities.

Workshop participants will also identify potential river corridors to be considered as additions to the Oregon Scenic Waterway Program, which sets aside river corridors for recreation and resource protection.

Under direction from Governor Kitzhaber, OPRD studies at least three waterways every two years to see if they could be added to the scenic waterway system. Information on the process is available at: http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/Trail_Programs_Services/Pages/Scenic-Waterways-Assessment-Process.aspx .

Feedback from the workshops will be used to update the current Statewide Trails Plan for Oregon that was completed in 2005. The final product – to be titled Oregon Trails 2015: a Vision for the Future – is scheduled for completion in December 2015 .

Workshops are scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. as follows:

Oct. 1, Pendleton, Little Vert Theater Room (downstairs), 345 SW Fourth St.
Oct. 2, The Dalles, Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, 1400 W. Eighth St.
Oct. 6, Mt. Vernon, Mt. Vernon Community Hall, 199 W. Main St.
Oct. 7, Burns, Harney County Chamber of Commerce, 484 N. Broadway Ave.
Oct. 8, Ontario: Four Rivers Culture Center Medical Arts Room, 676 SW Fifth Ave.
Oct. 9, Baker City: Baker City Public Library, 2400 Resort St.
Oct. 20, Coos Bay: Coos Bay Public Library, 525 Anderson Ave.
Oct. 21, Rogue River: Live Oak Grange Hall, 120 Gardiner St.
Oct. 22, Klamath Falls: Klamath County Museum, 1451 Main St.
Oct. 23, Bend: East Bend Library, 62080 Dean Swift Road
Oct. 27, Lincoln City: Driftwood Public Library, 801 SW Highway 101
Oct. 28, Salem: Center for Business and Industry, Room 115, 626 High St. NE.
Oct. 29, Portland: Portland Fire Station #12, 8645 NE Sandy Blvd.
Oct. 30, Eugene: Washington Park Center, 2025 Washington St.

For information on the Trails Planning Project and to view the current plan, go to: http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/Trail_Programs_Services/Pages/Trail-Plans.aspx .