Happy Labor Day! Enjoy Our Wonderful State Parks

For many of us, and our families, Labor Day is a sort of unofficial end to the summer. And this year, there’s a way for you to make your Labor Day special, right here in Oregon. That’s because the state is celebrating its 100th state park anniversary all year long, showing the initiative and vision of our predecessors.

How did this great idea of a state park happen in the first place? One of Oregon’s special places – and the first sate park-- was deeded when Sarah Helmick and her son James donated a little more than 5-acres of land along the Luckiamute River in 1922. It’s now Sarah Helmick State Recreation Site.

From there, the state has flowered. The Oregon State Park system is one of the most popular in the United States. Every year, attendants serve an estimated 50 million daytime visitors, with about 3 million camping nights booked per year. The attendance consistently puts the system among the top 10 most visited in the nation. The system manages 259 properties, including camping at 52 parks, on more than 113,000 acres.

Each of the state parks is an individual place where people play, picnic, camp, explore, hike, rest, and renew. They are an everyday reminder of the things that make Oregon great. It’s vital to understand the importance of state parks. Just as water, sewer, and public safety are considered essential public services, parks are vitally important to establishing and maintaining the quality of life in a community, ensuring the health of families and youth, and contributing to the economic and environmental well-being of a community and a region.

As the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department says, “We recognize that Oregon’s resilience and beauty are strengthened by its diverse communities. Our commitment is to serve everyone by striving to provide safe and equitable access to state parks and agency programs.” What a beautiful sentiment. And as we Oregonians know, we are tied to our land. Perhaps this is a holiday where you can enjoy a carefree moment or picnic, and step away from the trauma and stress, and embrace family and friends.

You can find out much more about the “100th year” here, with a list of fun things to do: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfmdo=v.featurearticle&articleId=292

And, of course, at CRT we are all about volunteering so there are many options as well, from river cleaning to beach cleanup, to celebrate the anniversary. You can find out more about that here: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfmdo=getinvolved.volunteer 

All of us at CRT wish you a happy and safe

Labor Day!