Protect Heritage Parks
Honor Donor Intent.
Preserve Rural Heritage.
Protect Public Lands for Future Generations.
A Gift to the Community Should Stay a Gift to the Community.
Every generation inherits something from the one before it.
Sometimes it's a family farm.
Sometimes it's a forest.
Sometimes it's a beautiful park.
When generous families choose to donate land to the Chehalem Park & Recreation District, they do so because they believe those lands will remain true to the purpose for which they were given.
The Protect Heritage Parks Initiative exists to ensure that trust is never broken.
Why This Initiative Was Filed
The Protect Heritage Parks Initiative was inspired in part by the debate surrounding Bob & Crystal Rilee Park—a remarkable property that was donated so future generations could enjoy its agricultural heritage, equestrian traditions, natural beauty, and peaceful open space.
Many residents became concerned when proposals emerged to introduce new uses that they believed were inconsistent with the property's historic purpose and the expectations surrounding its donation.
Whether someone agreed or disagreed with those specific proposals, the debate exposed a much larger issue.
Today, there are no permanent protections that guarantee future governing boards will honor the intended purpose of qualifying heritage properties.
Without those protections, the use of donated public lands can change as boards change.
That uncertainty threatens public trust—and may discourage future landowners from donating extraordinary properties for public benefit.
Why This Matters
This initiative isn't about one park.
It's about every qualifying heritage property within the Chehalem Park & Recreation District.
Across Oregon, communities are facing increasing pressure for intensive development.
Large rural properties are becoming attractive for industrial projects, commercial development, utility infrastructure, data centers, and other uses that can permanently alter the character of the land.
If families choose to donate land so it can remain open space, agricultural land, equestrian property, or a place where future generations can experience nature, those wishes deserve lasting protection.
The Protect Heritage Parks Initiative creates those protections.
You Have the Power to Protect These Lands
The only people who can permanently protect these lands are the voters of the Chehalem Park & Recreation District.
By signing the petition, you're not voting for the measure.
You're simply giving every voter the opportunity to decide whether qualifying Rural Heritage Parks should receive permanent protections that preserve donor intent and protect these special places for generations to come.
Be one of the citizens who helps place Protect Heritage Parks on the ballot.
Sign the Petition Today!
Connect with our team.
Protect Heritage Parks is powered by neighbors who care about preserving the special places that make our community unique. Whether you'd like to sign the petition, volunteer to help gather signatures, make a donation, ask a question about the initiative, request to speak with one of our chief petitioners, or simply find out whether you live within the Chehalem Park & Recreation District and are eligible to sign, we're here to help.
Reach out using the form below, and one of our volunteer team members will get back to you as soon as possible. Together, we can protect donor intent, preserve our rural heritage, and give voters the opportunity to decide the future of these remarkable public lands.