The state with tall evergreen trees, some desert, mountains, lush greenery and an incredible coastline may be in the Kwanzaa spirit. Ok, that spirit also includes the other holidays around this time as well. Oregon state parks waived fees last holiday year; which offered free parking at more than two dozen parks the day after Thanksgiving. Lisa Sumption, Oregon State Parks director, said in a news release last week, “We recognize that being outdoors makes us feel better and is a break from the stresses of 2020,” “In this unconventional year, we feel it is especially important to honor this tradition as thanks to Oregonians for supporting us through our toughest times.” Will this be done again this year?
The free parking waiver will applied last year to the 25 park sites that usually charge $5 per vehicle. In Oregon, the fee-free day is called Green Friday, while in Washington it’s referred to as Autumn Day.
Park officials are asking people to respect public health precautions set in place to help stop the spread of COVID. In Oregon, that means limiting gatherings to no more than six people from two households, wearing face coverings and maintaining at least six feet of distance from others.
To find out what is going on this year, keep checking the Portland Medium newspaper. A list of parks that require day-use parking permits is available at stateparks.oregon.gov.
