In the Gorge section, state park history began in 1922 with the purchase of certain small tracts for the protection of slopes along the Hood River loops. Sheridan Park, also in Hood River County, adjacent to the Bonneville Dam site, was purchased in 1923. The first tract acquired in Wasco County was the Mayer Park, a 1924 gift area. The Guy W. Talbot Park was the first Multnomah county tract, a gift to the state in 1929. Since the the acquisition of state parks in the Gorge area has gone on in an orderly succession of well chosen sites, selected by Samuel H. Boardman, State Parks Superintendent, with his usual discriminating care. As of December 31, 1944, the aggregated 1,883 acres, 1,431 acres were gifts to the State and 452 acres were purchased.
Ranging from Portland eastward to The Dalles, the first state owned park area along the Columbia River Highway is a tract of one acre, situated just above the lower Sandy River bridge; the last one the Lewis and Clark Plaza , Just within the west limits of The Dalles. The Sandy, tract is only a widened parking space beside the Sandy River, recognized as an excellent location for dipping eulnchons ( smelt) when they come to the Sandy River spawning grounds. It is described as being in Section 25, Township 1 North of Range 3 East, W.M., Multnomah County , the deed dated July 20 , 1936.
W. A. Langille, State Parks Historian, 1946
Langille and Boardman 3 - 4TABLE OF CONTENTS
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