As rebuilding from wildfires continues, Marion County restricts access to roads and parks
Wildfire damage along the Little North Fork River on Oct. 14 (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Marion County is temporarily closing parks along the Santiam River and restricting access to certain roads to protect the public from hazards while allowing rebuilding from last year’s fires.
The Marion County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved orders that will only allow property owners, their guests, contractors and agents to access North Fork, Gates Hill, and Pioneer Roads, according to a county press release.
The county is also restricting access to North Fork Park, Salmon Falls Park and Bear Creek Park and Campground, according to a press release. Specifically, no parking and no bicyclists will be allowed on the North Fork, Gates Hill and Pioneer Road rights-of-way. Additionally, no recreational access will be allowed on the Little North Fork Santiam River from North Fork Road, Gates Hill Road, Pioneer Road, North Fork Park, Salmon Falls Park or Bear Creek Park and Campground.
According to a county press release, the restrictions are meant to protect people from hazards in the corridor leftover from last September’s historic wildfires.
County parks were badly damaged by the fires and left many large dead and standing trees that can suddenly fall. The Little North Fork Santiam River is unsafe for the public to enter because a large volume of woody debris is making its way down the watershed.
Marion County Public Works will post road signs on North Fork, Gates Hill, and Pioneer Roads signaling the closures. According to a press release, Public Works anticipates it will take approximately 18 months to restore wildfire-damaged roads and two to three years to fully rebuild county parks.
-Jake Thomas
