Parks Levy is Bringing New Life to Outdoor Lane County

When voters approved Lane County’s five-year Parks Levy in 2022, supporters hoped it would mean more than fresh coats of paint and new picnic tables. Less than two years in, officials are pointing out that differences are already visible – and park-goers are noticing.

“First impressions matter,” said Parks Superintendent Steve Rafuse, who joined the county on the eve of the January 2023 ice storm. “When people come to a park, the signs, the parking lots, the restrooms – they all signal whether this is a place being cared for. That sense of pride is what we’re rebuilding.”

For years, the county’s park system has struggled. Issues included aging equipment, minimal staff, and deferred maintenance. Now, though, new ranger trucks, upgraded tools, and additional staff are helping crews cover more ground. Weekend and evening patrols have reduced incidents at busy parks, while volunteer campground hosts, officials say, finally have the support they need.

One key hire – a campground coordinator – has made all the difference. “We used to limp through summers with too few hosts,” Rafuse told county commissioners during his parks levy update on August 12.. “This year we actually had more hosts than spots, and the results speak for themselves. Our campgrounds ran smoothly, he said”

The levy is also fueling partnerships that extend beyond simple maintenance. The county worked with Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah to improve trails, collaborated with schools to bring youth volunteers into parks, and supported programs at the Arboretum that connect kids with nature.

V said accessibility has become a hallmark of the effort. The nonprofit David’s Chair has provided all-terrain wheelchairs at Heceta Beach and Mount Pisgah, enabling people with mobility challenges to reach places once out of reach. This summer, one of those chairs carried a visitor all the way to the top of Mount Pisgah – a first.

“Seeing that moment was incredible,” Rafuse said. “It’s exactly the kind of impact we want these investments to have – making our parks truly for everyone.”

Bigger projects are on the horizon. A new picnic shelter is taking shape at Eagle Rock Park, where river guides often stop for lunch. Designs are nearly complete for a revamped Armitage Dog Park that will separate dog walkers from RVs and boat trailers. On the coast, Harbor Vista Campground will get a major shower house renovation, and Heceta Beach will trade its vault toilet for a full-flush restroom.

The largest projects – a complete rebuild of the North Jetty parking lot and long-overdue upgrades at Hendricks Bridge and Mount Pisgah trailheads – are set to begin in 2025.

For Rafuse and his team, the levy is about more than paving and painting. It’s about restoring a sense of pride in the county’s 65 parks – and showing voters that their trust was well-placed.

“People are already telling us, ‘I can see the difference,'” he said. “That’s what keeps our crews motivated. By the end of this levy,