For Immediate Release

Date: March 14, 2003

Boating Facility Awards Given By Marine Board

The Oregon State Marine Board recently recognized Linn, Yamhill and Crook county government staffs and programs for their work with the Marine Board in providing Oregon boaters with boating access facilities.

"Oregon boaters enjoy some of the best boating access facilities in the nation for several reasons," said Ron Rhodehamel, P.E., facilities program manager for the Marine Board. "One is their willingness to self-fund improvements through fees on boats. But another very important reason is the hard work of people in parks, city and county programs and other entities that use those funds to help create on-the-ground projects to make boating easier and more enjoyable. The Marine Board simply couldn't do its job without these people."

The awards were made during the Marine Board’s Facility Grants Workshop held in Wilsonville in February.

• Outstanding Parks Maintenance Staff: Award presented to Maureen Crawford, Crook County Parks and Recreation District, for her work completing improvement projects at Ochoco Reservoir. Boarding floats were recently installed at the boat ramp, with a small amount of funds, in an extraordinarily short time period.
• Best Maintained Facilities: Award presented to Linn County Parks Department for innovative, efficient and self-reliant maintenance of existing facilities. "Their efforts result in family-friendly parks, campgrounds and boating access sites, which consistently draw visitors from across the state," said Rhodehamel.
• Outstanding Parks Support Staff: Award presented to Laura Tschabold, Yamhill County, for her work on the Rogers Landing project at Newberg. Her multi-year involvement required the greatest amount of effort and perseverance, as this project experienced particularly difficult challenges. "With utmost resolve and attention to detail, Laura Tschabold was an active partner in finding solutions to keep the development of Rogers Landing within critical schedules and restrictive budgets," said Rhodehamel.
• Best Grant Project: Awarded to Yamhill County for the project at Rogers Landing on the Willamette River in the City of Newberg. The large project required three phases of work spanning more than 10 years at a cost of nearly $1.3 million. This investment has culminated in one of the largest and finest facilities on the Willamette River. Phase one involved construction of restroom facilities in 1992. Phase two occurred in 2000 with a parking lot expansion that nearly doubled available parking spaces. Phase three of the project replaced the old boat ramp with a new three-lane ramp constructed upstream from the old ramp, which is currently being restored to natural conditions. Amenities include boarding floats on both sides of the ramp, and a 200' long concrete transient tie-up float.
• Professional Service Award: Rhodehamel views this as perhaps the most prestigious award. "It isn't for a specific achievement, but instead recognizes sustained superior performance over a long period of time." The award, for the first time, was made posthumously, to Dave Clark, who directed the City of Albany’s Park and Recreation Department for more than 28 years. The award was accepted by Albany’s Mayor, Chuck McLaran on behalf of Dave Clark and the City of Albany. "Sadly, Dave’s leadership in parks and recreation was cut short by his death last October 29, at age 52, following a long illness," said Rhodehamel. "Dave was a visionary who was clearly ahead of his time, with an enormous capacity for optimism and hope. He could see possibilities where no one else could. He was a champion of boating access, and acquisition of Willamette River waterfront lands for the public’s benefit. When he arrived in Albany in 1974, less than 10 percent of the riverfront was City owned. Today, well over 90 percent of the Willamette River frontage on both sides of the river is in public ownership. Dave Clark has been recognized locally and nationally for his beautification efforts and support of family-friendly recreational activities." Clark developed a significant new boat access site, Takena Landing, on the river’s west bank. In 1983, on the Willamette River’s east bank, he initiated the River Rhythms, now the largest free summer concert series in the Pacific Northwest. "The lifetime accomplishments of Dave Clark will improve the quality of life for generations of future Oregonians," said Rhodehamel.

Over 90 people from throughout the state participated in the conference. Marine Board Director Paul Donheffner opened the workshop with a discussion of the Board’s 2003-05 budget development and how current budget issues will affect future grant funding. Other conference agenda items included permitting procedures, requirements and responsibilities. Guest speakers from other agencies provided information on other important sources of grant funds. Representatives of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department, and the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps also made presentations.

The Marine Board has administered the grant-in-aid program since the 1971-1973 budget cycle. The goal is to improve boating access facilities in Oregon. A portion of the agency’s budgeted revenues is distributed through grants to government entities. These grants are combined with other matching funds to construct boat ramps, parking lots, restrooms, and transient facilities, which provide improved recreational opportunities for Oregonians and visitors alike.

Purpose of the biennial workshop is to review and update application and award procedures for future facility grants. Providers will apply for new grants in the spring of 2003, and the Board will award a significant number of grants in July of 2003. Construction of all 2003-2005 grant projects must be complete by June 30, 2005.

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