Howard Buford Recreation Area southeast of Eugene reopens after ice storm damage

Chris Pietsch, Eugene Register-Guard
·2 min read
Kallan Link, left, and Chantel Anderson enjoy a walk in the sun at Mount Pisgah Arboretum on Friday, the first day the park was open to the public after being closed by ice storm damage in January.
Kallan Link, left, and Chantel Anderson enjoy a walk in the sun at Mount Pisgah Arboretum on Friday, the first day the park was open to the public after being closed by ice storm damage in January.

The Howard Buford Recreation Area southeast of Eugene is open again.

The area which includes Mt. Pisgah Arboretum closed in January after the ice storm caused extensive damage to the park.

Fallen trees and branches, brought down by the heavy ice that accumulated over several days, blocked paths and left branches hanging, posing a hazard to visitors.

At the time officials estimated that 60% of the trees in the park sustained damage in some way. The arboretum alone covers 118 acres.

The cleanup was accomplished with help from by staff and volunteers with Mt. Pisgah Arboretum, Friends of Buford Park and Mt. Pisgah, Lane County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse, Lane County Road Maintenance, and Scorpions trail crews.

Volunteers and staff work to cleanup portions for Mt. Pisgah Arboretum near the White Oak Pavilion on Jan. 26.
Volunteers and staff work to cleanup portions for Mt. Pisgah Arboretum near the White Oak Pavilion on Jan. 26.

“It is wonderful to see the public back out here in this place so loved by the community,” said Brad van Appel, executive director Mt. Pisgah Arboretum.

A handful of visitors walked through the arboretum Friday morning after the park opened at 10 a.m. and made their way up trails to the summit of Mount Pisgah.

“We’re just really happy to be out here on a beautiful day,” said Chantel Anderson of Eugene. “It looks like everyone worked really hard to prepare it.”

A celebration of the opening will be held Saturday from 10 to 1 p.m. Park staff, partners, and volunteers will be on hand to share their experiences, answer questions about the recovery efforts, and guide walking tours.

Van Appel cautioned that the visible impact of the storm will be striking. Saturday’s event will provide an opportunity for the public to process the changes to the park in the wake of the storm and talk to officials and volunteers about the impacts, he said.

Light snacks and hot drinks will be available. A parking fee is required. More details are available at www.lanecountyor.gov/parks, www.mountpisgaharboretum.org or www.bufordpark.org.

For more information about HBRA visit www.lanecountyor.gov/parks or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @lanecountyparks.

Contact photographer Chris Pietsch at chris.pietsch@registerguard.com, or follow him on Twitter @ChrisPietsch and Instagram @chrispietsch

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Howard Buford Recreation Area southeast of Eugene reopens