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Rogue River Greenway Newsletter
An emerald necklace of parks and public access areas along the
Rogue River all linked by a ribbon of greenway trail. |
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Newsletter #1 - April 2011 |
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Greetings!
Welcome to our first newsletter about the Rogue River Recreational Corridor and Greenway project. The goal of this newsletter is to provide you with ongoing progress reports, updates and information about this exciting legacy project. Please help raise awareness and support by forwarding this newsletter to your friends and family. Thank you.
We truly do need your support to keep this project moving forward. Most of this 30 mile project is located outside city limits in rural and underserved areas yet it has some of the most beautiful areas along the Rogue River. As you might imagine, these circumstances make fundraising a bit of a challenge. We have learned to succeed by being creative and by combining grants and holding cycling events and other fundraisers to make it happen but we could use some help. Our partnering agencies have also been terrific but in order for them to help us we need to be able to demonstrate community financial support for some of the grants.
Please consider making a donation or annual pledge to this important legacy project. Every dollar makes a difference. Just click on one of the Greenway links and go to the Contribute page or you can use direct mail to: Rogue River Greenway Foundation, PO Box 1439, Rogue River, OR 97537. |
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The Rogue River Recreational Corridor & Greenway Project | | |
The RRG
The Rogue River Recreation Corridor and Greenway is a collaborative effort to construct 30 miles of greenway (paved trail) paralleling the Rogue River and connecting communities and park and recreation areas along the corridor. The parks and public access areas along the trail are considered the "emeralds" in the greenway necklace.
The Rogue River Greenway will connect with the 20-mile Bear Creek Greenway, and when combined, the trails will connect eight cities (Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Medford, Central Point, Gold Hill, Rogue River, and Grants Pass) and many rural communities in two counties (Jackson and Josephine).
To date the RRG project has raised over 6,000,000k through the support of our agency partners, various grants and fundraising events like Ride the Rogue. Nearly half of the 30 mile trail is either funded, in construction or in the development stages.
At this moment we are working on
a number of grants for various sections. One area of special focus
is for the engineering of the County approved separated trail on North River Road, the last unfunded section needed to complete the Greenway link from the city of Rogue River to Gold Hill.
Also we are trying to raise funds for an interpretive plan and 9 interpretive full color panels (3 historic, 3 wildlife, 3 plant life) and 2 bike racks at each end of the new trail from the Depot Street Bridge Trailhead through Valley of the Rogue State Park to Twin Bridges Road. Our plan is to engage the local school children by having them learn about the different sites and vote for the best three in each category. We look at this as an opportunity to help foster in the next generation of stewards of our public lands and a great way for children to learn about their heritage and environment.
NOTE: The grant funds secured for the RRG Project are funds that if not used here in So. Oregon, would be used for similar projects in other parts of the state. They are dedicated funds for this type of use, i.e. these funds could not be used to fund education etc. The RRG project does NO takings of private lands, we only work with willing sellers.
To see a full map of the proposed Greenway click here: RRG MAP
*The route may change as we work through various issues and obstacles not yet known.
*Note: We did not add "$" signs by dollar amounts in this E-Newsletter as it reads as Spam. |
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RRG Adds New Talent to the Team! | | Please Welcome Our Newest Board Members
The Rogue River Greenway Board is please to announce the addition of:
Teresa Pearson - Rogue River
Tom Gruszczenski - Eagle Point
Richard Amneus - Grants Pass
Greg Applen - Medford
They are a wonderful and welcome addition to our dedicated team and each brings their own special talents to help continue the quest to build the Rogue River Recreational Corridor and Greenway. |
 | | Teresa Pearson |
 | | Tom Gruszczenski |
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 | | Richard Amneus |
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| | Greg Applen |
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Grand Opening of New Greenway Section in June | | |
New section of trail nears completion
We are very pleased to report the 2.5 mile section of new trail is nearly complete through Valley of the Rogue State Park. The trail is bladed, rocked, rolled and paving is scheduled to take place in April.
This section will connect to the completed Depot Street Bridge Greenway Trailhead in Rogue River on the west end, and to the 1 mile of trail already paved on that end. On the east end of the park the new trail will connect with the completed trail section at Twin Bridges Road & I-5 underpass near the boat launch area. Additionally, this project also includes completing the section along Twin Bridges Rd. between North River Rd. and the I-5 underpass.
A combined total of appx. 3.5 miles of continuous new greenway along the Rogue River should be ready to enjoy by the first week of June 2011. A grand opening dedication will be announced and you are personally invited to join us at the celebration.
A very big thank you to Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. (OPRD), the City of Rogue River, ODOT Bikeways, Jackson County and all the contributors, valley wide that helped make it possible. A very special thank you to Andre Briggs, Superintentent for OPRD Southwest Area and Valley of the Rogue State Park Manager.
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Rock Point/Sardine Creek Trail Section Underway | | |
The Greenway is coming together
This section of the project from Sardine Creek to Rock Point Bridge is a very important piece of the Greenway project. ODOT Transportation Enhancement funds of 1,451,300k have been obtained to complete approximately 0.75 miles of the Rogue River Greenway from Sardine Creek to Rock Point Bridge. OPRD will provide the 407,100k mathing funds for the grant via lottery funds. Completion of this segment will connect the City of Gold Hill with two recreation sites, the Sardine Creek and Rock Point areas, as well as a major tourist attraction, Del Rio Vineyards, which attracts thousands of visitors each year.
The project will route northbound bicycle/pedestrian traffic (leaving Gold Hill) underneath the existing vehicular bridge at Sardine Creek then across the creek by a new bike/Ped bridge. The trail will continue northwest as a separated trail located between Hwy. 99 and the river up to and under the Rock Point Bridge. The trail will pass under Rock Point Bridge, and connect with North River Road at Del Rio Vineyards, where the route will continue northward. The first 1/3 mile of separated trail along North River Road (heading towards the city of Rogue River from Del Rio Vineyard) is funded and will be constructed through a 375k ODOT Bicycle/Pedestrian Grant.
This part of the project is a collaborative effort between many agencies and entities, including the Rogue River Greenway Foundation, the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Jackson County, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. RVCOG applied for and will manage the Sardine Creek Transportation Enhancement Grant Project. OPRD will purchase the needed property, maintain the entire length of the segment, and provide the cash match. Jackson County will provide the up-front cash for the ODOT Bicycle/Pedestrian reimbursement grant.
*Only 1 more section is needed to connect the cities of Rogue River & Gold Hill with a continuous bike/ped trail - North River Road from the completed 1/3 mile we mentioned above to Valley of the Rogue State Park. |
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Tom Pearce Park Trail Completed | | |
 All New and Ready To Use
The new 1.2 mile paved trail through Tom Pearce Park in Grants Pass is complete and looks wonderful. This was a terrific effort by the Josephine County Parks Dept. and some dedicated citizens; Andrew Margeson, Bob Chard, Fred Borngasser and others. Grant funds of 106,000k from the State Parks Recreational Trails program made it possible.
One of our goals for the future is to connect to this trail from the Depot Street Bridge Trailhead at the City of Rogue River.
We view this as the west end of the RRG and one the RRG emeralds. Hopefully we can find a way to work with the railroad to make this important two county connection. Meanwhile if you are looking for a great place to take your kids for a walk or bike ride near Grants Pass, this is it. Photo were taken by David Ross.
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Hwy 140 Expressway Bike/Ped Underpass Complete | |  ODOT - Great Job!
Although the new Hwy. 140 Truck Expressway project at Blackwell and Kirtland Roads in Central Point will improve travel efficiency and safety for trucks and autos, it could have created difficulties and safety issues for pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrian riders attempting to cross the expressway.
While developing the Highway project ODOT installed a bike/pedestrian underpass
to allow for safe passage for the Rogue River Greenway users and for all those that work and live in the area. Jackson County has agreed to maintain the facility. This piece is not currently connected with the Greenway (yet) but it was important to do this while the Hwy. 140 project was being built and would have likely cost much more to install later. We have work ahead to develop that section of Greenway trail and now that we know there is a safe way across it makes all the difference in the world. Thank you to ODOT, our State Legislators and Jackson County for their support. |
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New Rogue River Water Trails Guide | |  Time To Explore The Rogue River
Early in 2010 Oregon State Parks initiated a process to designate a Rogue River water trail and create a water trails map from the McGregor Park boat launch on the upper river to the beginning of the Rogue's designated wild section at Graves Creek. The trail and map will encompass approx. 88 miles.
Water trails are a systematic analysis of a waterway to help river users be more informed about launch and take-out facilities, miles between important points, hazards, safety issues and other general information. Signage along the river is also an important piece of a designated water trail. Numerous points along the Rogue River Greenway will be included in the guide. Water trails and associated maps have been established on a few other Oregon rivers by State Parks. Maps have been developed and well received by the public for the Willamette and Sandy rivers.
A representative of the Rogue River Greenway Foundation along with representatives of all local land management agencies-SOVA, Grants Pass Visitors and Convention Bureau, a local guide service, and the Oregon Trails Advisory Committee have been participating with State Parks providing information and cooperating to produce the guide. A partnership between State Parks and SOVA will allow for efficient production and the sale of advertising to provide financial support for production and distribution. The guide will be sold for a nominal fee. The guide should be available for distribution this spring. |
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Changing of the Guard | | |
A New Leader
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Margaret Knight |
As one of the founders of the Rogue River Greenway Foundation
and after serving for 8 years and two terms as Chair, I am happy to announce that as of Jan. 1st, 2011 Margaret Knight is the new RRG Chair. Margaret has been a dedicated RRGF board member for many years and I have full confidence in her abilities to navigate through the many twists and turns ahead on the road to building the Rogue River Greenway and Recreational Corridor in Southern Oregon.
I will continue to support and work on the development of the RRG as
an enthusiastic board member. It has been an incredible 8 year journey and the adventure continues with this wonderful regional project.
My heart felt appreciation and thanks to all of you who took a chance on a vision and believed it could be a reality. We still have miles to go before we sleep and we will need your help to see it through but great things are happening and it is coming together.
This is for all So. Oregoneans and especially for our children and grand children so please get involved, make a donation and or volunteer. Your support makes a difference.
Keep Believing,
Shayne Maxwell
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In Closing:
Our board is comprised of all citizen volunteers from around the Rogue Valley and we have no paid staff. We utilize every dollar we receive and work hard to turn it into more. Every
board member is also a financial contributor to the Greenway and a "working" board member. The Rogue River Greenway Foundation is a Non-Profit 501(C)3 Organization.
This is an incredible project and one you can be proud to support and be a part of. We are diligent and thoughtful about how this project is built and when it is complete it will be a world class recreational corridor and greenway benefiting all of Southern Oregon.
Please join us in supporting the Rogue River Greenway.
Happy Trails,
Rogue River Greenway Foundation Board |
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