Oregon State Parks Face Funding Crisis as Officials Launch Public Survey for Solutions

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is facing a financial crisis, but its director, Lisa Sumption, says OPRD is not waiting for a crisis to happen; instead, it is planning ahead to build a relevant and resilient state park system.

In an effort to establish priorities for the future of state parks, the OPRD is launching a survey to engage public opinion and to reassess funding, operations, and support.

Current Funding Does Not Keep Pace With Needs

Despite recently increasing its fees, the OPRD is facing a shortfall of funds because of changes to lottery funding and increases in running costs.

The OPRD director, Lisa Sumption says current funding has not kept pace with how Oregonians use and value state parks today.

The OPRD has launched an online survey to collect feedback from state park visitors about priorities for new and existing experiences, services, and amenities. It also wants to garner information about possible public-private partnerships, sponsorships and other funding options.

In an effort to attract public opinion, the OPRD is offering a draw for a free annual parking permit at state parks to everyone who takes part in the survey.

Oregon State Parks Are Among the Most Visited in the U.S.

Oregon state parks are among the most visited in the U.S. Last year, a record-breaking 56.6 million people visited the state’s parks.

However, no matter how much this record-breaking figure is lauded, it nevertheless imposes a significant increase in wear and tear on an aging infrastructure, driving up maintenance and long-term operational costs.

The OPRD operates more than 250 state parks, the ocean shore, and hundreds of historic structures. It also manages the State Historic Preservation Office, ATV safety programs and permits, and grant programs for trails, ATVs, historic structures, and local government projects.

The OPRD has three main sources of funding – just under 50% from dedicated lottery funds, 35% from visitor park fees, and 15% from the agency’s share of recreational vehicle license plate fees.

If you would like to support the OPRD or want to take part in the survey, visit stateparks.oregon.gov/ or take the survey at bit.ly/stateparksurvey.