Public Invited to Help Plan for Lincoln County Parks

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), otherwise known as State Parks, is engaged in comprehensive planning for the future of parks in its South Beach and Beverly Beach planning units, which essentially cover the entire Lincoln County coast. A set of public meetings is coming up which will give interested citizens a chance to comment. 

At these meetings, State Parks staff will present their assessments of the parks along this stretch of coast and discuss the opportunities and constraints that shape the planning effort. The public will then be invited to discuss goals and strategies for managing these parks. It is also possible to weigh in via mail, e-mail or phone. 

The first of the public sessions will take place Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the South Beach State Park Meeting Yurt (south of Newport). 

The second takes place the next day, Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Beverly Beach State Park Meeting Yurt (north of Newport). 

A meeting of the advisory committee for this planning process is also schedule for Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 1-4 p.m. in the South Beach State Park Meeting Yurt. The public is invited to listen in, but not comment, at this meeting. CoastWatch has been represented on the advisory committee during the earlier stages of this planning initiative by mile adopter Phil Barbour; Oregon Shores’ former president and conservation director, Fran Recht, will step in for him at this meeting. 

Learn more about this planning process, and sign up for future notification, at the website State Parks has set up, www.southbevparksplan.com.

Contact planner Ian Matthews with questions or comments at OPRD, 725 Summer St., N.E., Suite C, Salem, OR 97301; (503) 986-0744; or southbevparksplan@oregon.gov.

After this round of meetings, the public will next have the chance to connect with the planning process in winter, 2016 (no dates set at present) when the planners present their “concept alternatives” for public review. Draft comprehensive plans for the two units will subsequently be presented to the public in summer, 2016.