By Ron Brown
 
July 14, 2009
 
MEDFORD, Ore. - A Jackson County park that has been in slow decline for years is getting new attention from county officials.
 
A plan developed two years ago is now the focus of efforts to revive the campground and facilities at Willow Lake.
 
"Willow Lake has a lot of potential, and everybody saw that that could be a real gem for us. And so we completed a master plan, but that master plan has just been sitting. And what we'd like to do is we'd like to bring the master plan to you in an official capacity for the board to adopt that plan and that'd be the guiding document for us to continue to implement changes and development," Jackson County Public Works Director John Vial said.
 
"The idea behind this was to make this so that it was financially viable," said Bob Jones with the Medford Water Commission.
 
"I think it's a great starting point for doing some work up there, and hopefully enabling us to further our partnerships with the city of Butte Falls and the Medford Water Commission," County Parks Manager Steve Lambert said.
 
The development plan already has the blessing of the MWC. Now it's in the hands of Jackson County commissioners, who hope to consider adoption of the master plan in August. Once the plan is adopted and approved then grant money can start flowing into the projects.