Park exits to remain same; signage sought

By a 4-1 vote, the Parks Advisory Board (PAB) is recommending leaving the two ingress/egress points at the Creekside Campground in their current configuration, allowing exiting and entering on both S. Locust Street and on Desperado via Buckaroo Trail.

They are asking that the City of Sisters website be revised to include detailed instructions to campers for accessing the park from either direction. They have also recommended better signage on the highway for both entrances, which is regulated by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Additionally, the PAB is recommending that the City review/revise the Transportation System Plan regarding possible changes at several intersections at the east end of town.

Campers approaching from the east on Highway 20 will be encouraged to turn left onto Buckaroo Trail and then right onto Desperado. Those coming from the west on Highway 20 will be directed to turn right on S. Locust. Those traveling from the east on Highway 126 can either turn left onto 20 where the two roads merge and then right onto Buckaroo, or proceed west and turn left onto S. Locust. Campers will also be informed of the two access points by City staff, when reservations are made.

According to comments from the most recent surveys taken of residents living near the park, and public testimony both at last week's PAB meeting and numerous earlier ones, the main objections by all parties involved, besides traffic volume, are the presence and number of large Class A and B RVs in the campground.

A number of suggestions have surfaced over the last year and a half: reduce the number and/or size of RVs allowed in the campground; RV park should be outside town and out of residential areas; phase out RVs in CCG over several years; return the campground to tent camping only; and reduce the number of camping sites to the original 45.

Jen McCrystal, who lives on Tyee directly south of the campground, described CCG as an "in your face campground." Since the changes made starting in 2010, the smell and noise of rumbling diesel engines at 7 a.m. is obnoxious, she says. And they are unsightly backed up to the CCG fence.

Due to costs, the berms and planting originally recommended by the PAB will not be installed along Tyee. Some of the RV hookups are scheduled to be shortened to move the RVs away from the fence.

McCrystal also reported that, since the removal of a number of trees from the campground, the highway noise is much more noticeable in the neighborhood. She said that the current campground is negatively impacting the value of her home, which wasn't the case when she bought the house.

Once the Council accepts the PAB recommendations, the CCG Master Plan will be complete and able to be incorporated into the larger 2011 City Parks Master Plan. That plan is being updated to reflect what has happened to the parks since the Master Plan was adopted four years ago and what is in the pipeline for the future.