Oregon State Parks celebrate 100th birthday

(JANUARY 14, 2021) 100 years ago, state parks were barely an idea in Oregon. They were little more than patches of roadside greenery. Today, the Oregon State Parks system includes 254 park properties and more than 100,000 acres.

It all began with five acres near Monmouth. Sarah Helmick donated the land to the state in 1922. It became Oregon's first official state park.

For a long time, Oregon state parks were managed by the Oregon State Highway Commission. It wasn't until 1989 that the state government created the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Later, in 1998, Oregon voters dedicated 7.5% of Oregon Lottery revenue to help pay for the park system.

Today the Oregon State Park system is one of the most popular in the United States. Every year, it serves an estimated 51.7 million daytime visitors (3rd in the nation). Also, 2.95 million campers (5th in the nation) stay in the park.

The mission (goal) of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is “to provide and protect outstanding natural, scenic, cultural, historic and recreational sites for the enjoyment and education of present and future generations.” That includes many viewpoints, waterfalls, trails, and historic landmarks. The Oregon State Park System also manages the Ocean Shore State Recreation Area, which includes the entire coastline of the state.