Sunriver has had its fair share of weird weather this summer that included almost daily thunderstorms, and a freak hail storm.
Page 4
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Nature Center ............... 8 Calendar ..................... 13 SROA Board................ 26
Public Safety ............... 24 Commentary ............... 46 Classified .................... 47
Sunriver owners galavant across the globe and share their favorite photos with readers in ‘Making the Scene’
Page 25
S U N R I V E R
S C E N E A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
SEPTEMBER • 2014
VOLUME XL • NUMBER 9
North Pool to be exclusive to SROA members in 2015
By Brooke Snavely In response to a steady flow of comments that owners wanted a facility exclusively for themselves, on Aug. 16 the Sunriver Owners Association Board of Directors designated the North Pool to be that place in 2015. “I’m very pleased to announce that the board voted unanimously this morning that the north pool, for the 2015 year, will be dedicated and utilized exclusively by our owners and the guests that accompany them,” said Bob Nelson, SROA board president. The announcement was greeted with applause from approximately 120 members who attended the Aug. 16 SROA Annual Meeting. “You’ll be hearing over the next several months more details about that. We will continue to have times for people who want to swim laps. We want to look for things that we might do in that space that will bring our owners together. I’ve been told in the olden days there were lots of events that were held at the North Pool — cookouts, social events, etc. We are going to continue looking at
Election results: Boat ramp proposal approved by owners
The smaller and quieter North Pool will be for the exclusive use of SROA members in summer 2015.
ways we can increase the privilege and value of ownership here in Sunriver,” Nelson said. During discussion prior to the board vote SROA General Manager Hugh Palcic noted there were comments submitted during the recent survey of
owners asking: Why can’t we just have the North Pool? How come we who paid for the amenities can’t get into them? Palcic said, “Staff perceives a potential member-exclusive benefit.” Turn to Pool, page 3
Sunriver to Lava Lands pathway officially opens to foot, bike traffic
By Brooke Snavely The new 5.5-mile multi-use SunLava paved path opened Aug. 9 with a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by a bike and wheel chair parade to celebrate its accessibility to many types of users. About a dozen Sunriver owners rode their bicycles up the new pathway to Lava Lands Visitors Center to participate in the grand opening festivities. In so doing, they demonstrated how easy it is to ride from Sunriver to Lava Butte. From Sunriver, the 10-foot wide pathway curves gracefully through the forest to the halfway point near Benham Falls Day Use Area. From there to Lava Lands Visitor Center the pathway parallels Benham Falls Road as it slopes gradually uphill, but it’s nothing most casual SUNRIVER SCENE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSN. VOLUME XL • NUMBER 9 P.O. BOX 3278 SUNRIVER, OR 97707
bikers can’t handle. Most will enjoy the easy downhill return trip. “It’s great. The kids and I rode the Lava Lands paved pathway for the first time today,” said one owner. “We saw over 100 others during our out and back ride including families on cruiser bikes, dog walkers and mountain bikers who we saw ride it up and then take the Blackrock single track down. “I was on my three-speed Townie and was able to make it to the Lava Lands area no problem. My kids loved it. Everyone looked happy, thrilled in fact. It’s a big contrast to the miserable and angry people I’d see on the dusty road that was there before. It’s a transformational project that opens up whole new areas to Sunriver people.”
Construction began in February and progressed quickly through clearing, earthwork, constructing the pathway’s gravel base, installation of safety lights and arms where the path crosses the Burlington Northern Sante Fe railroad tracks to paving and signing. The $1.8 million project was awarded to High Desert Aggregate & Paving and was funded by the Public Lands Highway Discretionary Program and ODOT Rail Safety Program. “We’ve created wide points on the trail where there are viewpoints,” said Peter Murphy, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Transportation, the agency that designed the project. “It’s a nice path to be on and, from Turn to Pathway, page 3
By Scene Staff A proposal to construct a boat ramp on the Deschutes River in Sunriver was approved by 86 percent of members of the Sunriver Owners Association who cast ballots in SROA’s Aug. 9 election. The measure passed with 1,835 yes votes versus 219 opposed. Members also renewed the terms of two incumbents (Bob Nelson, Roger Smith) and elected one new member (Jim Fister) to the SROA Board of Directors. The new boat ramp, associated parking lot and restrooms, is estimated to cost $370,000. The funds will come from SROA reserve accounts, meaning no additional expenses to members of the Sunriver Owners Association who pay $107.64 per month to maintain 65 miles of roads, 30 miles of paved pathways, the SHARC aquatic center, two parks and more than 1,000 acres of commons. The SROA boat ramp will be constructed on the Sunriver Marina lagoon. It will provide owners and their guests with access to the Wild & Scenic Deschutes River that runs along the western boundary of Sunriver. The ramp will be constructed on a 13-acre parcel the owners association acquired through a land exchange with Sunriver Resort in 2012. The Sunriver boat ramp project is subject to review by a number of land use agencies including the Oregon Department of State Lands, Fish & Wildlife, Deschutes National Forest and Deschutes County. The project has already received approval of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Oregon Parks & Recreation Department. Pending necessary approvals and permits, construction is scheduled to begin this fall and will continue through winter as weather permits. The Sunriver owners boat ramp is scheduled to open for use by owners and guests in May 2015. PRSRT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID BEND, OR PERMIT NO. 213