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SUTHERLIN -- Douglas County officials pledged to work together with a volunteer group interested in making improvements at Mildred Kanipe Memorial Park northeast of Oakland.
A Friday evening meeting attended by county Commissioner Dan Van Slyke, Park Director Jeff Powers and members of Friends of Mildred Kanipe Memorial Park drew 125 people to a conference room at the Umpqua Regency Inn in Sutherlin.
"We're sorry there aren't enough chairs, but we're glad there aren't enough chairs," Sutherlin resident Jean Ivey said in welcoming the large crowd that filled the room, with a majority of the crowd left standing.
Van Slyke told the group during the two-hour meeting that the county wants to improve the park and move forward from years in which very little has been done, if compared with expectations. He said fellow Commissioners Doug Robertson and Marilyn Kittelman share his hopes for the park to become a jewel in the county's park system.
"We see the ranch as a real treasure and a treasure to invest in," Van Slyke said.
Van Slyke told the group the county was not interested in clear-cutting timber on the property, which had been proposed several years ago. Because any revenue produced from the park must be used to finance park improvements, money earned from any large-scale logging would most likely sit in a bank account unused because there wouldn't be enough uses for it, he said.
Kanipe died in 1983. In her will, she left the ranch to the county. For years, county officials have debated a clause in the will that says "No timber shall be cut or harvested except as may be necessary. ..."
In the end, wrangling over that clause led the county to make no major improvements at the park and stalled implementation of a management plan. Now, both the county and the volunteer group hope to start an active management program.
"We made a decision to adios that debate," Van Slyke said. "We decided to manage the property the best we could."
Van Slyke told those assembled, many of whom ride horses in the park, that he is opposed to instituting day-use fees at Kanipe Park and other county parks. He told a story about how years ago, he drove to the coast to ride horses, only to find that he had to pay for the privilege.
"I swore when I got into office, I wasn't going to go down that road," Van Slyke said, to clapping from the audience.
Powers said the county was considering instituting a nominal $5 charge for people wishing to camp overnight in the park. He said they were also drawing up a fee schedule for special event rentals, such as weddings.
Powers thanked the large number of park volunteers who have helped with improvement projects in the past. He said his department is grateful for the work done there and for the continued interest.
"It's certainly gratifying to see this level of support for the park," Powers said, looking out on the crowd. "We appreciate your patience."
Lois Eagleton, who organized the meeting, said there were possibilities to receive grant money to pay for improvements to some of the ranch buildings, including Kanipe's home, which dates from 1857, and a schoolhouse built in 1894. She said the Friends group also planned to conduct its own fund-raising activities.
People who attended the meeting said they were pleased with what they heard.
"It was very positive," said Jerry Fowler, a Lookingglass resident and member of the Douglas County Sheriff's Posse, which uses the park for training exercises and recreational activities, such as a poker run. "It seems like they have a good handle on things."
Kanipe Park has great potential to become one of the finest equestrian and hiking parks in the state, Sherri and Jeff Davis said. The Roseburg couple said they come to the park to ride about three times a year and that with a little promotion, the park could become very popular.
"I think there are a lot of groups that don't know about Kanipe Park," Jeff Davis said.
They said they were pleased to hear the county's commitment to the park.
"If everything is implemented as Commissioner Van Slyke said, it will be great," Sherri Davis said.
* You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
A Friday evening meeting attended by county Commissioner Dan Van Slyke, Park Director Jeff Powers and members of Friends of Mildred Kanipe Memorial Park drew 125 people to a conference room at the Umpqua Regency Inn in Sutherlin.
"We're sorry there aren't enough chairs, but we're glad there aren't enough chairs," Sutherlin resident Jean Ivey said in welcoming the large crowd that filled the room, with a majority of the crowd left standing.
Van Slyke told the group during the two-hour meeting that the county wants to improve the park and move forward from years in which very little has been done, if compared with expectations. He said fellow Commissioners Doug Robertson and Marilyn Kittelman share his hopes for the park to become a jewel in the county's park system.
"We see the ranch as a real treasure and a treasure to invest in," Van Slyke said.
Van Slyke told the group the county was not interested in clear-cutting timber on the property, which had been proposed several years ago. Because any revenue produced from the park must be used to finance park improvements, money earned from any large-scale logging would most likely sit in a bank account unused because there wouldn't be enough uses for it, he said.
Kanipe died in 1983. In her will, she left the ranch to the county. For years, county officials have debated a clause in the will that says "No timber shall be cut or harvested except as may be necessary. ..."
In the end, wrangling over that clause led the county to make no major improvements at the park and stalled implementation of a management plan. Now, both the county and the volunteer group hope to start an active management program.
"We made a decision to adios that debate," Van Slyke said. "We decided to manage the property the best we could."
Van Slyke told those assembled, many of whom ride horses in the park, that he is opposed to instituting day-use fees at Kanipe Park and other county parks. He told a story about how years ago, he drove to the coast to ride horses, only to find that he had to pay for the privilege.
"I swore when I got into office, I wasn't going to go down that road," Van Slyke said, to clapping from the audience.
Powers said the county was considering instituting a nominal $5 charge for people wishing to camp overnight in the park. He said they were also drawing up a fee schedule for special event rentals, such as weddings.
Powers thanked the large number of park volunteers who have helped with improvement projects in the past. He said his department is grateful for the work done there and for the continued interest.
"It's certainly gratifying to see this level of support for the park," Powers said, looking out on the crowd. "We appreciate your patience."
Lois Eagleton, who organized the meeting, said there were possibilities to receive grant money to pay for improvements to some of the ranch buildings, including Kanipe's home, which dates from 1857, and a schoolhouse built in 1894. She said the Friends group also planned to conduct its own fund-raising activities.
People who attended the meeting said they were pleased with what they heard.
"It was very positive," said Jerry Fowler, a Lookingglass resident and member of the Douglas County Sheriff's Posse, which uses the park for training exercises and recreational activities, such as a poker run. "It seems like they have a good handle on things."
Kanipe Park has great potential to become one of the finest equestrian and hiking parks in the state, Sherri and Jeff Davis said. The Roseburg couple said they come to the park to ride about three times a year and that with a little promotion, the park could become very popular.
"I think there are a lot of groups that don't know about Kanipe Park," Jeff Davis said.
They said they were pleased to hear the county's commitment to the park.
"If everything is implemented as Commissioner Van Slyke said, it will be great," Sherri Davis said.
* You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
