The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has released plans for its newest state park, just south of Tillamook.
The plan for Sitka Sedge State Natural Area includes a low-impact design and 4.5 miles of trails.
Parks spokesman Chris Havel says it offers a unique coastal experience.
Havel: "There's a tremendous wetland that occupies the heart of the park, between the road and the ocean. And, there's a human made feature – a dike – that goes across this wetland. So, you can really experience the coast firsthand, up close, beyond the dunes and the sand that people really know."
Havel says Sitka Sedge is one of those parks that includes a wide range of beach environments – from an estuary to a forest, right down through dune grass.
Havel: "You'll see wildflowers along the way, you'll see wildlife, you'll get a little walk in the woods and then you'll get the beach. It's pretty special."
The state purchased the property for $1.8 million in June 2014. The plan is open for public comment until March 1st. If approvals run smoothly, the park is expected to open in late 2017 or early 2018.
