October 1, 2025

Go to > Home » Community » Parks & Recreation » Page 3

Parks & Recreation

Culture

Crater Lake named best national park for stargazing

Crater Lake has been named the nation’s best national park for stargazing. Crater Lake topped the national list with an index score of 100 out a 100 in a study conducted by the vacation rental site, Lake.com. The rating was based on data from the National Park Service’s Night Sky Collection Site, which scored every national park out of 100 points based on the average percentage of stars visible and the average median light pollution.

January 31, 2025

Events

Figure skating performance Saturday at First Frost

First Frost, a family friendly community skate event, is set for 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Ashland Rotary Centennial Ice Rink, 95 Winburn Way, Ashland. The evening begins with a Southern Oregon Figure Skating performance from 4 to 4:30 p.m., followed by open skating with music by DJ Tuffshed.

December 20, 2024

Environment

17th annual Bear Creek Salmon Festival: Fish, watershed & Native history

The Bear Creek Salmon Festival is returning with plenty to learn, see and experience at Ashland’s North Mountain Park Nature Center on Saturday, Oct. 12. Now in its 17th year, the festival celebrates the seasonal cycle of Pacific northwest salmon species, environmental stewardship and community.

October 7, 2024

City Government

$1M grant awarded for long-awaited East Main Park

Ashland Parks and Recreation has been awarded a $1 million grant to ensure the creation of East Main Park with a pump track for bikes and a dog park. Other features may be in play for the city’s first new park in years, but final costs and designs are still underway, said Ashland Parks and Recreation Director Rocky Houston.

September 27, 2024

Events

Track wheelchair program coming to Lithia Park as autumn begins

Those with mobility challenges will soon be able to access a special track chair enabling previously impossible exploration of Lithia Park. The nonprofit David’s Chair, working in partnership with Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission, will launch the program by giving demonstrations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, at the Lithia Park Cabin at 340 S. Pioneer St.

September 10, 2024

City Government

Ashland’s new parks director self-identifies as ‘boring’

As he moves into his new position as Ashland Parks & Recreation Director, Rocky Houston wants to have a foundational knowledge of what he calls the basics: More strategic planning, more maps, firm numbers and data on the total acreage of parks in Ashland, what level of service is needed at each park and how can parks be more equitable and efficient with where and how services are provided?

September 3, 2024

City Government

Position open on Ashland Senior Advisory Committee

A spot is open on the Ashland Senior Advisory Committee to help guide activities and resources made available to seniors by Ashland Parks & Recreation, according to an APRC release. Interested applicants have until Aug. 30 to seek the spot, according to the posting. To apply, visit the APRC page for the application form.

August 13, 2024

History

Butler-Perozzi Fountain work moves ahead

The fundraising campaign for the restoration of the historic Butler-Perozzi fountain in Lithia Park is nearing completion following a $20,000 grant awarded by the State Historic Preservations Office’s Preserving Oregon Grant Program.

July 24, 2024

City Government

Ashland Parks & Recreation to announce new director Wednesday, sources say

Ashland Parks & Recreation Commissioners intend to announce a new, permanent hire for the director position at their business meeting Wednesday, according to sources with knowledge of the hiring process who spoke ahead of a public announcement on the condition they be anonymous.

June 11, 2024

Events

Hundreds celebrate Children’s Day at Ashland Japanese Garden

More than 400 community members turned out Sunday afternoon for Ashland Japanese Garden’s first year celebrating Kodomo no Hi, or Children’s Day, a national holiday celebrated in Japan on May 5. Children’s Day is “a celebration of children’s individuality and strength, and really celebrating children’s identity in Japan.”

May 5, 2024

Our Sponsors

Grand Kyiv Ballet Swan Lake Klamath Falls Oregon

Ashland Community Composting Ashland Oregon

Latest posts

Ashland Mystery Festival to bring fresh blood, first-time authors for fans of cozy whodunits

September 30, 2025

This year’s Ashland Mystery Festival is scheduled to run Oct. 16 through 19, and will be headquartered at the Historic Ashland Armory.

Fake Jackson Alerts emails target county residents in phishing scam, officials warn

September 30, 2025

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is warning people about a phishing scam involving fake emails that appear to come from the official Jackson Alerts system.

‘Valuable knowledge for empowerment’: Registration open for October event series on safe and healthy life skills

September 30, 2025

Throughout October, 12 female professionals from across the country and Australia — organized by Ashland-based nonprofit Keeping All Women Safe (KAWS) — will offer “valuable information” to help women and men cultivate safer, healthier and more empowering lives and relationships.

Oregon Senate passes $4.3 billion transportation package

September 29, 2025

The Oregon Senate on Monday passed the long-awaited transportation bill to update the state’s funding sources for road maintenance and operations. The bill would raise taxes and fees, including a gas tax increase from $0.40 to $0.46, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Residents, vendors voice concerns about Ashland farmers market

September 29, 2025

Once a vibrant hub for local produce and community gathering, the Ashland Growers Market is now, some say, struggling with shrinking sales and dwindling attendance. Longtime vendors report drops of up to two-thirds in revenue, while people voice frustrations over pricing, location and atmosphere.

An elections expert explains why the federal government doesn’t need Oregon voters’ private data

September 29, 2025

A former civil rights attorney said that the Trump administration’s lawsuit demanding that Oregon turn over voter information to investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud is unprecedented.

Our Sponsors

Ashland.news Classifieds Ashland Talent Phoenix Medford Oregon

Ashland Climate Collaborative Sreets for Everyone Ashland Oregon

Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon

Pronto Printing Ashland Medford Southern Oregon

Become a sponsor