“Let’s Re-Imagine The Park!
In April 1962, Margaret and Charles Coate donated 18.66 acres to the county in honor of Margaret’s parents, Philomina and Christian Guler, early pioneers of Trout Lake. The land was designated for use as parkland to benefit the community. About a decade later, the county transformed the property into an overnight camping facility, a use that has remained largely unchanged ever since.
As we look toward the future of our community, we have a unique opportunity to reimagine this valuable asset and explore how it can better serve the needs of the community, including our elders, in the 21st century.
Why The Park?
In 2024, our committee—comprising Glenda Hollenbeck and Zoe Wood (both retired real estate professionals) and Dennis Hartley (a retired architect)—explored several possibilities for establishing a senior center in the village. Additionally, we have long-time resident engineers Mike Wellman and Frank Childs providing valuable guidance.
We considered utilizing existing buildings, but building within the village presents several challenges, including limited parking, the prevalence of bedrock, and flooding issues from Bear Creek and Trout Lake Creek. We reached out to various property owners but, until identifying the park as a viable option in October, came up empty-handed.
Of all the sites we evaluated, the park offers the greatest potential. One significant advantage is that the land could be contributed at no cost, which would substantially reduce the overall project expenses.
Why Is TLC Pursuing This Now?
Conversations with neighbors and results from our community survey have revealed a strong interest in establishing a senior community center, ideally with housing near the village center. In spring 2024, we engaged the Oregon Values & Beliefs Center (https://oregonvbc.org/), a nonprofit organization specializing in surveys for nonprofits and government agencies, to design and administer a community survey. The survey was conducted over the summer of 2024, and detailed results can be found here: https://oregonvbc.org/trout-lake-needs-assessment/. A summary is also available on our page on the community website: care.troutlake.org.
Developing a general plan with community support, meeting legal requirements, establishing architectural plans, securing funding and partners, and designing and constructing improvements is a multi-year process. However, based on the survey results, the need for a senior center is urgent, and we are taking steps to begin the process now.
On December 5, 2024, we achieved significant progress in satisfying the legal requirements of the original deed, making it possible to consider the park as a viable location. Since then, we have begun exploring what might be feasible and determining how much land would be needed to allocate for a senior center.
What Do You Envision?
Our first goal is to start a community-wide conversation to imagine what’s possible. Nothing can be accomplished without community input and support, along with cooperation from the county. Working with the community council, we’ve begun discussions to reimagine park uses over the next 20 years, aligning with the subarea plan being developed with the county.
Many important questions need to be addressed: Is the camping facility the best use of the park? What other park uses could benefit the community and gain county support? Potential improvements could include new trails, areas for family and community activities, a designated space for Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) hikers, and an emergency access point from Dean Road to better serve camper traffic.
To determine how much land would be required for a senior center, we conducted a preliminary site plan study, which was shared in December. According to this study, approximately two acres—or about 10% of the park’s total land—would be needed for the senior center and housing. However, this is just a starting point for discussions. Any eventual design will reflect the unique rural character and scale of Trout Lake.
A senior center, open to the entire community, could also include a small number of dwellings along Mt. Adams Park Road. These residences would serve active seniors and disabled individuals who wish to remain in the community but face challenges such as limited family support, increasing physical limitations, or a desire to be closer to activities and friends.
To minimize the impact on the park, this plan could be accomplished without adding new roads. Adjustments would include reducing the number of overnight camping spots and relocating the dump site and host area. As community conversations progress, a “Master Plan” would emerge, shaped by public input and county support.
Where Do We Go From Here?
On January 7, at the regular community council meeting, the council voted to send a letter to the county requesting an investigation of the deed restrictions and outlining a path to establish agreements that would make this conversation possible.
Once the legal requirements for setting aside land for the senior center are fulfilled, we will take the time to proceed thoughtfully. This will include holding working sessions with the community to develop a realistic “Master Plan” that addresses the many questions surrounding future park features and architectural programs. Both Commissioner Lori Zoller and our new commissioner, Todd Andrews (whose district includes the park), have expressed support for our efforts.
We believe that now is the right time to pursue this initiative. In the future, conditions may no longer be favorable for setting aside land for a senior center, making this a critical opportunity. However, nothing can move forward without the willingness and participation of the community to join us in beginning this process.
