County Purchases Don Lindly Park

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners recently voted to purchase Don Lindly

Park in Tidewater, previously operated by Lincoln County Parks under a lease

agreement, from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. During their regular meeting June 17, Commissioners Casey Miller and Walter Chuck approved an order authorizing purchase of the 10-acre former recreational vehicle park on the south bank of the Alsea River at milepost 7 on Highway 34.

The County had been operating the park under a 40-year lease with ODFW, whose commission voted in April to approve selling the property to Lincoln County. The purchase represents a change in direction for the property, which had previously been planned for development as a motorized boating facility with paved parking. Many residents and visitors pushed back on those plans beginning with a series of public meetings during 2023, in which County and state agency staff heard overwhelming feedback that the park should be maintained in its more natural state and only developed with an eye toward non-motorized uses – such as swimming, bank fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

That change in plans meant that the County would have to purchase the park in order to

keep operating it – otherwise, ODFW would have placed the property on the market for

the highest bidder. The purchase was only possible because of a $320,000 gift from an anonymous donor. With those funds, the County bought the property for $250,000 and repaid a grant from the Oregon State Marine Board that had been received under the understanding that the park would be developed for motorized use.

Parks Supervisor Kelly Perry said the public should not expect to see any changes to

the property in the immediate future, as currently there no funds available for

improvements. She is now seeking grants for native plant restoration. “It is a mature, forested intertidal wetland,” Perry said. “There are approximately 12 Sitka spruces that have a diameter at breast height of over 160 inches – very large trees. So that’s the foundation, but we want to plant more spruce and more native wetland species, as well as remove invasive species.”

She said Parks has already been working with Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District to remove purple loosestrife, one of the top ten invasive species in the state. Don Lindly Park is a day-use-only facility, with no overnight parking allowed. The gates are locked from late fall to spring every year, as the property lies in a floodway. There are no restrooms, electricity, or running water. “Don Lindly Park is one of those places that people simply love, whether they're casting a line, walking a dog, or watching birds in the shade of the old Sitka spruces,” Perry said. “We are deeply thankful to the public donor whose generosity ensured this treasured property will remain open and accessible to the public.”