Jefferson County leaders are putting the finishing touches on a 20-year parks master plan, and one of its clearest findings is this: southwest Madras has been left behind when it comes to public green space.
According to the plan, the only park within a three-quarter mile radius of the county's fishing pond in that part of Madras is Kenwood Park — a sliver of green space measuring less than a quarter of an acre. For a neighborhood that includes thousands of residents, many of them families with children, that gap represents a significant quality-of-life shortfall.
Where New Space Could Come From
The master plan identifies two promising locations for new recreational development in southwest Madras: the Jefferson County Fairgrounds and the existing youth fishing pond area. Both sites offer existing infrastructure and public ownership, which could reduce land acquisition costs.
The fairgrounds already serve as a multi-use event hub — it recently received more than $62,000 in grants for infrastructure improvements, including a $48,000 Visit Central Oregon Future Fund grant — suggesting there may be appetite and funding pathways for expanded recreational programming on the site.
A County-Wide View
The 20-year plan goes beyond Madras, also calling for improvements at Juniper Hills Park, Panorama Park in Crooked River Ranch, and the Jefferson County Event Complex. The Madras Mountains Scenic Views Route is also included as a priority enhancement.
Parks planning in a county as geographically spread out as Jefferson presents real challenges: the county spans more than 1,700 square miles and includes communities from Warm Springs to Camp Sherman to Ashwood, each with different recreational needs and infrastructure realities.
Why It Matters
Access to parks and green space is consistently linked to better physical and mental health outcomes, lower rates of childhood obesity, and stronger community cohesion — factors that take on added significance in a county that, until recently, ranked among the most economically distressed in Oregon.
Public comment opportunities on the parks master plan may still be available before the document is finalized. Residents interested in weighing in can contact Jefferson County Buildings and Grounds at 430 SW Fairgrounds Road, Madras, or visit jeffco.net for more information.