Friends of Zumwalt Park, Veneta, Oregon
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Heron at Zumwalt

Further questions?
phone:
541-935-0406
or email:
Friends of Zumwalt Park

Here is how you can help Zumwalt Park:

Pick up trash

Pick up after your dog

Pull ivy off of tree trunks

Cut back blackberry canes

Hello Friends of Zumwalt Park,

Well, we are thinking about Spring again and mowing the Park for our 6th year. However, there are some changes happening at Zumwalt.

Several of us met at the County Park office, at their invitation, to talk about the future of Zumwalt Park. Mike Russell, Lane County Parks Manager, told us the Army Corp of Engineers, from whom the Lane County leases the land for the Park, is requiring the County Parks Dept. to open Zumwalt Park to allow cars to drive into the Park. The cars would be allowed to drive in from April 27th to mid-October each year. Cars would be required to pay a ‘day-use’ fee and walk-ins would not. We asked Mike Russell to write a letter explaining his reasons for opening the Park - below is a link to his letter.

Our thoughts and concerns continue;

The Park is very special and is sought out by those who enjoy listening to the quiet sounds of nature as they walk or bike. I believe we will lose that quiet and peaceful feel of the Park. When the Park was closed by the County 5½ years ago, we got together as a community of concerned citizens and decided we could make a difference for the good of all. All of us that have volunteered at the Park have done so to keep this Park open, because it is a different kind of Park.

If revenue is the reason the Army Corps wants the Park open to cars (and we don't know that for sure yet), then we came up with a few ideas; those that wished to support the Park maybe could pay the equivalent of a Lane County Parks yearly pass ($30), or maybe only open the Park to cars on the weekend, or ???

A core group of Friends of Zumwalt Park will be meeting with the Army Corps. in the next couple of weeks to talk about our concerns.

Our wish is to hear your thoughts on this matter, pro or con. Now is the time to raise your voice and share your ideas. We are also very interested in gathering historical information about the Park, especially the problems that occurred in the 1970's (drag racing in the Park, etc.), and any know reasons why the Park was closed in 1982.

Please either email us at;

incasdogs@gmail.com or katgarden@willamette.net

or mail us info. at P.O.Box 818, Veneta, OR 97487

If we can't resolve the issue with the Army Corps we would like to hold a 'town hall' meeting at the Veneta Library and invite the Lane County Parks management and Army Corps. representatives to answer questions and hear the concerns of our community.

We look forward to your responses.
Thank you deeply,
Mary & Kat

Mike Russell's Response (109kb PDF)

Zumwalt Park Petition (97kb PDF)