Oregon and Coastal Parks' Projects A Mix of Good and Bad Budget News

Published 11/15/25 at 7:35 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Warrenton, Oregon) - Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) has announced the successful completion of three major projects along the Oregon coast. Yet it comes at a time when budgetary issues continue and some upcoming projects will be getting shelved. (Cape Lookout State Park, Oceanside / Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

Just finished up were upgrades at Beverly Beach and Nehalem Bay campgrounds, along with restoration work at Fort Stevens’ historic Guard House. These are all capital improvement projects funded by the state’s 2021 general obligation bond (GO Bond) initiative, each representing key milestones in the $50 million bond program aimed at modernizing aging infrastructure across Oregon’s state parks.

The GO Bond program, approved by the Oregon Legislature, was designed to enhance capacity and address deferred maintenance at high-use park sites.

An inland park is one of these success stories.

“Silver Falls also completed a portion of its GO Bond project last year with the North Canyon trailhead and parking lot, which eased parking congestion and added a new accessible trail,” OPRD said.

Looking ahead, OPRD plans to break ground on three more projects in 2026. These include utility upgrades at Fort Stevens campground, safety improvements at Cape Lookout, and visitor center enhancements at Silver Falls. However, several other planned developments - such as new facilities at Kam Wah Chung, Smith Rock, Champoeg, and Silver Falls - have been placed on hold due to funding constraints.

Silver Falls State Park

OPRD Deputy Director for Field and Community Services Matt Rippee cited rising costs and declining revenue as key factors in the department’s decision to reprioritize.

“When projects were initially identified 2021, we could not have anticipated the substantial increases in costs of materials, staffing and consultants or the significant reduction in revenue,” Rippee said.

Guard House at Fort Stevens

The department now plans to redirect approximately $15 million in remaining GO Bond funds toward high-priority maintenance needs, projects that include utility systems and core infrastructure. This shift comes amid a projected $14 million operations budget shortfall for the current biennium, driven by reduced Lottery revenue and escalating costs.

To address long-term sustainability, OPRD is conducting a comprehensive review of its expenditures and exploring new partnerships and sponsorships. The agency emphasized it is prioritizing high-quality visitor experiences while adapting to the financial realities of the times.

Completed GO Bond Projects

Beverly Beach / Oregon Coast Beach Connection

- Beverly Beach Campground (Newport): Electrical upgrades, underground power lines, paving, campsite improvements, and sewer lift station rehabilitation

- Nehalem Bay Campground (Nehalem): Utility upgrades, new restroom and shower facilities, accessible campsite additions, and entry road improvements

Fort Stevens Guard House (Warrenton): Roof and structural repairs, masonry restoration, window and door upgrades, landscaping improvements, and electrical enhancements

- Silver Falls State Park (near Silverton): Construction of North Canyon trailhead and parking lot

Scheduled for 2026

- Fort Stevens Campground: Utility infrastructure replacement, restroom and shower building upgrades, and day-use area improvements

- Cape Lookout (Oceanside): Foredune reinforcement, utility upgrades, and resurfacing of day-use parking

- Silver Falls: Completion of North Gateway Visitor Center and potential utility system upgrades

Projects on Hold

- Kam Wah Chung: New interpretive center with classrooms, archives, and staff offices

- Smith Rock: Welcome center, parking improvements, accessible trails, and visitor flow enhancements

- Champoeg: Additional RV sites, cabins, and restroom/shower facilities

- Silver Falls: North Gateway campground and restroom/shower facilities

OPRD will continue to review and update services, fees, projects and operations to keep providing high-quality visitor experiences and sustain parks now and in the future. In addition to pausing these GO Bond projects, OPRD is also streamlining costs and looking for new partnerships and sponsorships to help build a more sustainable funding future.

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