PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Faced with budget cuts, Oregon State Park leaders are asking the public how it can better meet their needs.
“For more than a century, Oregon’s parks have been a source of pride, joy, and connection for communities across the state,” said Oregon Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Sumption.
“But the way we fund the system has not kept up with how Oregonians use and value it today,” she said. “We’re not waiting for the crisis—we’re planning ahead to build a more resilient and relevant park system.”
Day-use fees doubled at Oregon’s state parks in December. In January, reservation, camping, extra vehicle and boat moorage fees also increased. A 25% out-of-state surcharge was also expanded to apply to all sites.
Even with the fee increases, the agency is facing a potential 14% budget deficit.
Rising costs and inflation are cited as reasons for the shortfall, as well as the increase in visitation.
According to a statement from the agency, Oregon State Parks recorded more than 56.6 million visits in 2024. It is one of the most visited park systems in the country.
But with such high visitation, more resources and personnel are required to keep up.
“We already operate leanly, but we’re also taking a hard look at costs and spending decisions as we plan the future. We’re building new partnerships with Oregon businesses and growing opportunities for visitors to experience state parks in new and innovative ways,” Sumption said.
The purpose of the survey is to help gauge interest and prioritize how Oregon Parks can best manage the 250 state parks and hundreds of historic structures it oversees and maintains.
For more information about the survey or to learn about ways to support parks, visit stateparks.oregon.gov/ or take the survey at bit.ly/stateparksurvey.
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