Trail Team
Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world. - John Muir
Little Trails Team Update – January 2024
Trails were identified as one of the top initiatives resulting from the 2023 OAP strategic meetings. Because of this, the Little Trails team was created with a primary directive to identify and map existing trails in the Oceanside. Through this process, opportunities would be identified to maintain and enhance current trails, as well as to identify and potentially establish new trails.
More than twenty-five people, representing the diversity of neighborhoods in Oceanside, have signed up to participate on the team.
To initiate the process, a small coordinating team met for several hours to discuss, review, validate and draft a preliminary plan to meet OAP’s goals. The coordinating team included: Ann Passmore (Administration), Deb Sprague (Maintenance) and Gail Chun-DeDuonni (OAP Team Coordinator).
Working with the direction provided from the OAP strategic meetings, the coordinating team reaffirmed the team's primary objective to map the Oceanside area in order to identify current trails, and to document additional information that could include:
1. Established trails that are improved or unimproved;
2. Ownership of the land upon which the trail is located: Public, private, government;
3. Easement and/or permission for access established;
4. Identification of new trails to be established;
5. Identification of existing trails that need maintenance.
It was also agreed that a partnership with the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association, and more specifically with the Trails & Outdoor Recreation Manager, Dan Haag, provides an effective collaborative conduit for sharing of information and strategizing about issues and initiatives that affect state and local trails.
Latest Newsletters from Dan
Recreational Immunity Webinar & Trails Day in Salem
https://mailchi.mp/7c1bfe8c90e1/recreational-immunity-webinar-trails-day-in-salem?e=a71d06e800
January Trails and Recreation Newsletter
https://mailchi.mp/6023d0dbc88c/january-trails-recreation-newsletter?e=a71d06e800
February Trails and Recreation Newsletter
https://mailchi.mp/48fa79770eb7/february-trails-recreation-newsletter?e=a71d06e800
Additional Issues:
- Fields v. City of Newport – impact on “recreational immunity” and effect on trails in Oceanside.
- Short Beach Trail and Tire Trail (Camelot) – OAP Leadership partnered with Tillamook Public Works to write a grant for the replacement of the Short Beach Trail and continue to research options for repair/replacement of the Tire Trail.
- Collaborate with the OAP Leadership to create a vision and mission statement for Little Trails.
- Identify local and state-wide trail advocacy groups.
- Update and post Little Trails contact list – if you have already signed up to be on the team, you will receive an email to verify your contact information.
Little Trails plans to schedule a full team meeting sometime in February-March.
If you are interested in joining the team, or have any questions about what we are doing, please reach out to: oceansidetrails@gmail.com
Special News
Trails Team
March 14, 2024 Meeting (3/18/24 v.1)
A small group met to share and exchange information on initiatives and efforts identified by our Oceanside neighbors.
U.S. Congress Passes $1.33 Million Package for Oregon Signature Trails!
The $1.33 Million package includes improvements on three of Oregon's Signatures Trails: the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, the Blue Mountains Trail in the Umatilla National Forest, and the Oakridge-Westfir Mountain Bike System in the Willamette National Forest.
Dedicated funding for specific trails is extremely rare in the federal budget appropriations process, and we are so grateful to Oregon's Senator Merkley and Senator Wyden for their support for trails and their leadership bringing this funding to Oregon. When Oregon Trails Coalition published the Oregon Signature Trails Inventory last spring, this was just the kind of investment we were hoping to forward!
SB 1576 A: Emergency Recreational Immunity Fix Passed By Oregon House!
Today SB 1576 A was passed by the Oregon House this afternoon by 50-0 vote. The last remaining step is for the Governor to sign it into law.
SB 1576A is critical to keeping our trails open, reversing recent closures, and keeping local trail improvement and development projects on track!(read announcement)
