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Project Background
Marion County Parks recently sold Auburn Park to the Salem-Keizer School District. Auburn Park was purchased with Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) money, which comes with stipulations. When property is encumbered with LWCF dollars, that property becomes part of the National Park Services LWCF portfolio. Thus, the value of this public land must be maintained even if the property is sold. When LWCF property is sold, the property seller must then convert land into LWCF encumbered property.
Marion County has underutilized land in the Macleay community that is desirable for development and use. The Macleay property was a landfill and transfer station for many years, but closed on September 25, 1975. Currently, the site is closed to the public. The Marion County Parks Commission believes this land could be a public park, providing all citizens access to a convenient, unique, and enjoyable outdoor experience. Marion County will seek community support for this project to develop a park specific to the needs and desires of local residents. Additionally, if the property is converted into a park, it will represent the mission and goals of the overall Marion County Parks system, stated below:
Marion County Parks will provide an interconnected, safe, accessible, and well-maintained parks system that provides diverse recreation opportunities to residents and visitors and preserves Marion County’s bountiful natural and historical resources.
By engaging the community in this project, the County seeks to achieve the following goals:
- Be a community partner
- Learn from the community to determine the best recreational uses for both local residents and potential visitors
- Gain community support for the development of this land as a public park
- Address concerns of the local community
- Educate about the benefits of public parks
Auburn Conversion Project
