The Oregon State Parks Foundation today announced that its online silent auction of 30 Campsites at the Crooked River Campground in the Cove Palisades State Park in Central Oregon raised $60,000 in support of Oregon’s State Parks. Bids for the four night campground spaces averaged $500 a night. The auction attracted attention and bidders from across the country, although the winners were all from the West Coast with the exception of one winner from New York. Seth Miller, Executive Director, said “Many people are not aware that the Oregon’s State Parks are not funded by state taxes. Instead, visitor fees are the primary source of income, and a fixed portion of the Oregon Lottery revenues covers about 40% of the cost of operating the parks. Unfortunately, these sources of funds are not keeping up with the growing costs, so the Foundation was formed to help enhance the experience of using the parks.” Funds raised by this event support the Oregon State Parks Foundation, and enables it to support programs to encourage healthy activities and outdoor education, and increase access to the parks by under-served communities. You can help too, become member of the Foundation for only $45 a year…and you will get a FREE one year parking pass as a thank you! Learn more at www.oregonstateparksfoundation.org
