Beginning next year, visitors to Oregon State Parks in Jackson County will need to adjust their plans—and possibly their budgets. As of January 1, 2026, those treasured parking permits from Jackson County will no longer grant access at parks like TouVelle State Recreation Site and Valley of the Rogue State Park, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has announced. The change comes as part of a broader strategy to tackle a $14 million budget deficit that the department faces this biennium.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), which relies on lottery revenue rather than general tax dollars, is contending with a diminishing stream of funds alongside ballooning costs, as explained by South Central District Manager Dani Padilla in a statement obtained by the Oregon Newsroom. "We appreciate our ongoing partnership with Jackson County and the collaboration for this program, but we can no longer continue the program due to budget constraints," Padilla said. "These changes are critical to sustaining state park operations and services now and for the future."
In efforts to manage its financial predicament, the OPRD is also stepping away from the Oregon Pacific Coast Passport starting January next year. This initiative is just one facet of the agency’s multi-pronged approach, which includes streamlining internal costs and scouting for fresh partnerships and sponsorships. These steps are aimed at constructing a more robust and sustainable economic foundation for Oregon's state parks.
