Linn County Parks Department celebrates new RV dump station
SWEET HOME — On a windy, but sunny afternoon May 8, a bright red ribbon was cut celebrating the opening of a new Parks and Recreation RV dump on 24th Avenue off Highway 20 in downtown Sweet Home.
Retired Parks Director Brian Carroll was invited by Parks Director Stacey Whaley to do the honors.
Carroll started working on the project that features four large lanes more than two years ago.
The new system utilizes SaniStar electronic controls on each dump station. The units work with credit cards only, no cash. Cost is $10 per vehicle.
Whaley said the project is a “team effort over many years.”
“The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department contributed $355,000 toward the $900,000 cost of construction,” Whaley said. “This facility will benefit the entire community, including local campers and people who attend the Oregon Jamboree music festival, as well as visitors passing through.”
Other funding came from the Transient Lodging Tax and RV license fees.
The new facility is on 4.62 acres of a former mill site.
Attendees included Commissioners Will Tucker and Sherrie Sprenger; Sweet Home Mayor Susan Coleman and City Manager-Police Chief Jason Ogden; representatives of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department; staff from Knife River, Linn County parks staff and representatives from SaniStar.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in November 2024 and Knife River poured asphalt in February.
“I want to thank retired parks director Brian Carroll for thinking outside of the box, dreaming up this facility and then getting the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department grant to fund it,” Whaley said.
Whaley thanked numerous people who made the project a reality, including Julian Fedorchuk and Mark Cowan of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Mayor Coleman and City Manager Ogden, the city’s Public Works staff; Commissioners Sherrie Sprenger, Will Tucker and Roger Nyquist for supporting the Parks Department, Knife River’s Chris Phillipson and Brian Reichert and SaniStar’s Eric Huffman and John Neal.
“Parks operations supervisor Tristan Davis did an excellent job overseeing this project and working closely with Knife River,” Whaley said. “Dena Barawis did an amazing job tracking invoices, preparing financial reports and other technical requirements.”
Albany RV supplied two large camping trailers for the celebration.
The facility is available 24/7, year-round.
For more information about Linn County Parks, visit www.linnparks.com or call 541-967-3917.
