Welcome center, other improvements coming soon to Smith Rock State Park; public invited to info session next week
TERREBONNE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Smith Rock State Park is slated to break ground on a new welcome center, restroom, trail connections and improved day-use parking in late 2025 or early 2026.
The public is invited to learn more at an online information session at 4 p.m. next Tuesday, Oct. 22. Advance registration is required to attend the information meeting.
Last year, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department updated Smith Rock State Park’s master plan, a guiding document for future improvements at the park.
"The current work represents the highest priorities for enhancing visitor experience, managing congestion and improving accessibility," park officials said in Friday's announcement.
The work at Smith Rock was made possible by GO Bond funds approved by the Oregon Legislature in 2021 and a Land and Water Conservation grant from the National Park Service.
The work includes (depending on final bids and funding):
- A welcome center
- Improvements to the day-use parking
- Adding one to two trail connections
- Adding a new restroom
Staff will work on the design development, planning, coordination and permitting through next spring, with the final design and project bidding slated for the fall of 2025. Park staff hope to break ground in late 2025 or early 2026 on the year-long project.
During construction, the day-use parking area may be substantially reduced. The park will know more about the impacts to visitors and provide that information as construction gets closer.
The park said it will keep visitors and the community informed about the project and visitor impacts on the park webpage and GO Bond page.
