Cascadia County Park welcomed into Linn County family
By Alex Paul
Communications Officer
CASCADIA — Linn County Parks has had a long history with the former Cascadia State Park and September 21, the historical site officially joined the parks family with a transfer ceremony that included traditional Native American blessings and a feast.
The 256-acre park sits on land that was an important meeting spot for Native Americans for centuries and also provided camas bulbs, a vital food resource.
Linn County has managed the park for three years and took it onboard in July. Wednesday’s ceremony was the official recognition of the ownership transfer and culmination of work that began more than two decades ago.
Linn County Commissioner Will Tucker gave a synopsis of the project, thanking all who were involved.
Fellow Commissioner Sherrie Sprenger called the ceremony a “special moment in time”.
She praised Parks Director Brian Carrol and his Parks Department team members.
“We definitely have one of the best parks systems in the entire state,” Sprenger said. “That is because they focus on how we use and not abuse the land.”
Sprenger pointed out Jean Burger, the unofficial mayor of the unincorporated Cascadia community, as a “champion of this park” that is dedicated to the entire community.
Stater Parks Director Lisa Sumption said the park has “so much cultural significance” and she also recognized Linn County Parks as an exceptional system.
She pointed out how successful Linn County Parks has been in managing the nearby U.S. Forest Service campgrounds and she added Cascadia Park “is in great hands.”
Brian Carroll called Wednesday’s ceremony a “wonderful journey” that has “taken a career to get here.”
Carroll recently celebrated his 25th year as parks director and said talk about the park transfer began about a year after he started work here.
“We are fortunate that State Parks did a lot of infrastructure work at this park before turning it over to us. That is very important and greatly appreciated,” Carroll said.
Carroll also thanked members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde for providing valuable input and historical information about the site.
“It shows they have a lot of trust in our parks staff and the work they do,” Carroll said. “The tribes actually wrote a letter of support endorsing the transfer.”
Carroll also thanked Commissioners Tucker, Sprenger and Roger Nyquist, who has long supported the project.
Both Carroll and Tucker thanked neighboring property owner Cascade Timber Consulting, land owners the Hill family and its president Milt Moran, who chairs the Linn County Parks Commission, for their strong support of not only this project, but many county parks projects.
Dietrich Peters, a Grand Ronde elder, assisted by Dean Armstrong, of the Lakota tribe, performed a traditional smudging ceremony and provided a salmon-based feast, part of Native American gatherings.
Peters said it is important to bless the land, talk with each other and share food.
He said the blessing is a way of providing thanks to grandfathers
“There is a good energy here, we share that with everyone,” Peters said.
Peters explained how important the camas fields were to migrating tribes and that the soda water that was so abundant, acted like medicine and called them “healing waters.”
Also representing the Parks Commission was Darryl Dukes and fellow members are Mellissa Barnard, Ken Bronson, Daryl Dukes, Mike Hurd, Rich Kellum, Rachel Maynard and Paul Timm.
Sweet Home City Council members present were Dylan Richards and Angelita Sanchez.
In addition to Jean Burger, an honored guest was former State Senator Mae Yih, who strongly supported the transfer effort.
Cascadia County Park is the entryway to the Cascadia Caves, which is on private property. The Caves served as a gathering place for Native American tribes for centuries and features numerous historical drawings.
Tucker said it is vital that the Caves be protected from vandalism, which has occurred.
Cascadia County Park sits on the South Santiam River and is surrounded by old growth Douglas fir.
The park offers 22 first come, first served campsites, group tent sites and a picnic area.
A three-quarter mile trail leads to Soda Creek Falls. Ruts on the historical Santiam Wagon Road are still visible.
Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 5451-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.
