Photo: Metro
Oxbow Regional Park is closing for several months starting Sept. 8 while Metro works to improve the park’s aging water system.
The park, which will be open on Labor Day weekend before the closure, is a beloved destination for camping, fishing, hiking and recreating along the Sandy River.
The September-to-January time frame was chosen to provide the least amount of disruption to park visitors and anglers. Pending any unforeseen delays, the park will aim to re-open as soon as construction is completed, tentatively scheduled for January. The closure includes all park entry, including launching and landing at the park boat launch or on foot, in addition to vehicle traffic. If boaters launch at Dodge Park or other river access points on the Sandy River they will not be able to land at Oxbow.
Replacing the water lines requires driving heavy machinery on the park’s only road, as well as significant digging and construction work within the road. The only way to complete this phase safely and efficiently is to close off the entire park. This includes the boat launch and the equestrian path.
“Some people asked if we could leave parts of the park open that were far away from where the construction was taking place,” said Jason Ligons, park operations district manager. “But if a park visitor got into trouble and needed emergency assistance, there’s no way first responders could reach them quickly with the road closed. For everyone’s safety, we need to close the whole park.”
When the work is completed, visitors to this well-loved park will have more reliable access to drinking water. “The old water system at the park is over 50 years old, and it is a constant struggle for park staff to keep up with repairs,” said project manager Ben Hedstrom. “The new system is being designed with the next 50 years in mind, and is being built in areas that our research shows are unlikely to be affected by erosion in that time frame.”
Check the status of Oxbow Regional Park and get updates about the project by visiting the park’s web page at oregonmetro.gov/oxbow
Source: Metro