The Oregon State Parks Department will hold a public hearing tonight on a proposal to charge a $3 fee to use seven additional state parks on the Southern Oregon Coast. In addition to Sunset Bay State Park, shown here, the parks department would like to charge fees to visit Beverly Beach, Bullards Beach, Cape Blanco, Harris Beach, Jessie M. Honeyman and William H. Tugman State Parks. The hearing will take place at the city of Coos Bay council chambers from 7 to 9 p.m. World Photo by Lou Sennick

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department wants to expand its state park day-use fee program and will take comments on the proposal at a series of meetings. The fee increases would be phased in at 24 locations that do not now require them.

Fees are charged now for permits at 26 of the 173 state parks with day-use areas. Permits cost $3 daily, $25 for a 12-month pass or $40 for a 24-month pass.

Locally, meetings will be held tonight from 7 to 9, in the council chambers, city hall, 500 Central Ave., Coos Bay; and on Thursday, July 17, from 7 to 9 p.m., council chambers, city hall, 29592 Ellensburg Ave., Gold Beach.

South Coast parks that would become fee regulated on Oct. 1 include:

€ Bullards Beach State Park, two miles north of Bandon;

€ Cape Blanco State Park, nine miles north of Port Orford;

€ Harris Beach State Recreation Area in Brookings;

€ Jessie Honeyman State Park (East Woahink day-use area);

€ Sunset Bay State Park, 12 miles southwest of Coos Bay; and

€ William M. Tugman State Park, eight miles south of Reedsport.

The state would add 12 more locations in the Willamette Valley and Eastern Oregon to the fee regulations in October 2005.

State Parks Assistant Director Tim Wood said, in a press release, the state is expanding to program to provide similar levels of services or amenities among parks. He added that these parks also incur significant maintenance costs. Typical operational expenses electricity, sewer and water, garbage, fuel, landscape maintenance and law enforcement.

According to Wood, the cost of maintaining Oregon's state park day-use areas exceeds $28 million each biennium.

The expansion, Wood added, is the first significant one since 1994 when OPRD began requiring day-use permits at 24 parks on a year-round basis.

People may comment on the proposed changes by attending the meetings, or by writing to OPRD, 1115 Commercial St. N.E., Salem Ore. 97301-1002, Attn: Colleen Rogers.

They also can comment via the Internet at http://www.oregonstateparks.org/feedback.php.