Linn County Parks & Recreation Winter 2016 Newsletter

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Hello friends, travelers, and community. 2016 has been a wonderful year for Linn County Parks & Recreation. See our many exciting developments below!

New Website Launch

Since you’re reading this newsletter, you’ve found our new website, www.LinnParks.com! We’ve taken a great technological leap forward and are proud of our new, gorgeous, highly-functional, mobile-responsive website. We’d like to thank our new digital agency, Limelight Department, for designing and developing our new website.  This website includes many new, user-friendly features, highlighted by:

  • Integration with online registration – our website users now have the ability to make reservations for camping online.
  • Mobile-responsiveness – the website automatically adjusts its appearance to fit the device you’re viewing it on.
  • Interactive park locator tool with feature/amenity filter – find the right park based on what you can do there right from our website.

Record-Breaking Attendance in 2016!

In 2016 Linn County Parks experienced a 20% increase in reservations and parks attendance. This is an incredible growth in recreation! Our research indicates the following reasons for increased recreation:

  • The new website with user-friendly online registration makes it easier to find camps.
  • Our investment in expanded facilities and services has improved the experiences for our users.
  • Foster Reservoir’s popularity in 2015, thanks to it being one of the only drought-stricken reservoirs with water, acted as a spring-board for patrons to explore and experience other Linn County Parks in 2016.

Construction Updates

We improved several aspects of our parks system infrastructure in 2016, with more planned for 2017.

1) Whitcomb Creek County Park Expansion

We’re expanding the campground at Whitcomb Creek County Park on the Green Peter Reservoir. The campground will expand from the current 39 sites to an incredible 90 sites! This expansion represents the first phase of implementation of the Green Peter Recreation Master Plan. The $650,000 project is funded from an RV licensing fee grant through Oregon State Parks and Recreation. The US Army Corps of Engineers assisted with environmental regulatory efforts. The Whitcomb Creek expansion is scheduled to open in May of 2017. We will start taking reservations as soon as we have more definite opening date.

2) New Group Campground

In 2016 we opened a new group campground on Quartzville Creek, on the northeast end of Green Peter Reservoir.

3) New Cabin at River Bend County Park

A new cabin is under construction at River Bend County Park, which will be open in May of 2017. Look for reservation announcements coming soon!

4) Edgewater Marina Improvements

We’re making improvements to the Marina, including:

  • Improved ADA walkway access
  • Installing a waste water pump-out system for boats
  • Access to drinkable water
  • Improved security

5) USFS Campgrounds We Manage on Highway 20

We manage several Federal Forest Service campgrounds along Highway 20, and a couple of them have undergone improvements:

Both of these campgrounds are in excellent condition and are perfect for family and group camping.

6) Road Construction Improvements

There have been road improvements that have impacted some of our parks. The improvements are on Quartzville Road along Foster and Green Peter Reservoirs. The Linn County Road Department has:

  • Widened the road
  • Repaired slide areas
  • Resurfaced the roadway
  • Built three new information/rest stop areas along The Quartzville Road National Back Country By-Way

These represent a considerable improvement from what was previously there and will improve recreation access and safety along the corridor.

Reserve Facilities, Cabins, and Campgrounds Online

We hope 2017 is a year of prosperity, safety, and outdoor recreation for all of our friends, family, and community. Don’t forget you can now easily make Linn County Parks & Recreation reservations online!