Editorial: Rim Village to get new look, and it’s about time
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
November 26, 2004
BY PAT BUSHEY
Finally, the money’s approved and Crater Lake’s Rim Village is going to lose its “used car lot” look.
Thank heavens. And also thanks to an an energetic effort by Rep. Greg Walden, congressional staffers and strong support by the Crater Lake National park administration led by Supt. Chuck Lundy. They worked hard to make it happen.
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| This drawing shows the new look coming to Crater Lake National Park. |
This one’s been a long time coming.
Some $8.7 million is in the 2005 Omnibus spending bill that was approved last week by the House and Senate. It’s expected to be signed by President Bush.
Rim Village, overlooking the lake from the edge of the caldera, is dominated visually by the parking lot, which means visitors’ first view of the lake is either across a sea of asphalt or the tops of cars, depending on whether there’s a lot of visitors that day.
Either way, it’s not an aesthetic view for one of the world’s gems, one created 6,000 years ago when 12,000-foot Mount Mazama erupted, then collapsed, leaving the nation’s deepest, bluest lake.
Plans have been worked on for decades to take away the strip-mall approach to development at Rim Village and return the area to a more natural setting, one far more in keeping with the beauty of the scene.
But its been a struggle for money.
Last summer it was in the budget for awhile, then stripped out by the House Interior Appropriations Committee.
With hard effort by Walden, Sens. Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden, and others, the money is back in, and it deserves to be. This is not a pork barrel measure. It’s something the nation should do to recognize the gem that it has in Crater Lake. It’s also capitalizing on money already spent on the lodge and other buildings to return it to a more natural setting and to give the place more appeal.
When the project’s completed, the parking lot will be behind buildings at the rim, and other structures will be relocated and rebuilt.
Crater Lake deserves as much.
Finally, it’s really going to happen.
The “H&N view” represents the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. Pat Bushey wrote today’s editorial.
Other pages in this section
- Pendleton creates online blanket special for Crater Lake Trust – November 23, 2004
- Crater Lake to get funds – November 22, 2004
- Falling trees do damage at Crater Lake – November 19, 2004
- Lost at the lake – November 17, 2004
- Crews find lost snowboarders – November 16, 2004
- Missing snowboarders found – November 16, 2004
- Vesta Lee Fulton – November 15, 2004
- Obituary: Kevin Palmer – November 4, 2004
- Officials hold dedication for 500-mile scenic byway – October 15, 2004
- Byway hits milestone: celebration of Volcanic Legacy All American Road planned for Thursday – October 12, 2004
- Conference to celebrate frontier poet – September 24, 2004
- Two hikes, two views – September 20, 2004
- Science, learning center part of park renovation – September 14, 2004
- Crater Lake holds status as area’s primary tourist draw – September 13, 2004
- Obituary: Rex Laverne Ash – September 07, 2004
- Hike of the week: Mt. Scott gives bird’s-eye view of Crater Lake – September 3, 2004
- Geologist’s talk rebuilds a mountain – August 25, 2004
- Lindgren, Hanlin repeat as Crater Lake Rim Run winners – August 16, 2004
- Shields remembers first Crater Lake races – August 16, 2004
- Ten small fires burn in Crater Lake park area – August 16, 2004
- Oh Crater Lake – poetry about the lake – August 9, 2004
- Friends of Crater Lake to repair Annie Creek – August 03, 2004
- Park publications on sale at Great Basin Visitor Center – August 02, 2004
- Astronomy programs set for this weekend – July 29, 2004
- Pied Piper of Astronomy’s to present program: John Dobson – July 15, 2004
- Crater Lake to reduce fire hazards – July 02, 2004
- Editorial: Should this be a first ‘view’ of Crater Lake? – July 1, 2004
- Crater Lake’s summer program cut – June 29, 2004
- Crater Lake road ready for drivers Wednesday – June 15, 2004
- Governor OKs Crater Lake for state’s quarter – May 25, 2004
- Chamber has big ideas for new quarter, promotions – May 18, 2004
- Postcards from the Rim – April 26, 2004
- Guidebooks help reveal new ways to explore Oregon – April 25, 2004
- Cycle Oregon to tour Crater Lake – February 29, 2004
- Crater Lake tops list of specialty plates, raises $1.1 million – February 26, 2004
- Ole Norman Lunde – February 24, 2004
- Crater ski patrol launches effort for new ski signs – February 20, 2004
- It’s plow it out, lit snow, plow it out at Crater Lake – February 19, 2004
- Ski races at Crater Lake on Saturday – February 4, 2004
- What’s in a name? Chatting with Lewis L. McArthur – February 4, 2004
- Using cross country skis or snowshoes, one can experience Crater Lake’s winter wilderness – February 02, 2004
- Crater Lake license plates raise more than money – January 27, 2004
