The proposed transformation of the old Bates Mill site into an Oregon State Parks campground would be a win-win for the residents of Grant County.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission is expected to vote on a proposal for state purchase of the Bates property Thursday, Jan. 17. The vote could go either way, but a favorable staff report and previous discussion of the subject suggest that officials will look kindly on the idea.

If approved, the next step would be the final negotiations on the deal. We hope that the vote is favorable and the negotiations go smoothly, as this development could bring dividends for all concerned.

First, a successful purchase by the state would resolve the financial obligation facing the non-profit Bates Foundation and its biggest backer, Grant County. The county guaranteed the loan when private Bates boosters purchased the land, and that guarantee leaves a $400,000-plus obligation to come due in December of this year.

Equally important, the state purchase would put the millsite in the hands of an agency that has the expertise, staffing and monetary resources to develop a first-class recreation site. There’s no reason for Grant County to reinvent the wheel in this case, if the state’s primary park developers want to do the job themselves.

The deal also should reassure private supporters of the Bates property. The former townsite’s history and contributions to the region could be preserved and showcased at the park, and the land now sitting vacant and unused would once again ring with the sound of families enjoying the scenic beauty and natural resources of the area.

The new park also would be a natural complement to the existing, outstanding state and federal recreational offerings in the area. It could be promoted as a part of a tour into Northeastern Oregon history and culture, joining Kam Wah Chung, the Sumpter Dredge, Clyde Holliday State Park, and the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Visitors could fish and hike while also getting a glimpse of the region’s history – from fossil eras to the Gold Rush to the logging heyday. What a way to transmit important economic and cultural lessons to visitors from the West side and beyond who haven’t been exposed to the Eastern Oregon story.

There’s no doubt that the Commission will review this proposal carefully and make a reasoned decision. We hope that decision heralds the development of a new campground celebrating historic Bates. – SC