Picnic Area in Paradise Day Use Area - Willamette National Forest OR
Description
Paradise Day Use Area is just a mile and a half from the McKenzie Ranger Station on the south bank of the McKenzie River. This picnic area was laid-out and improved by Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees from CCC Camp Belknap in 1937. When constructed it included both the current day use area and the adjacent Paradise Campground. At the time, “Paradise Camp” was meant to serve as many as five-hundred campers.
In addition to the picnic areas with stone fireplaces/stoves, an amphitheater is located in the day use area. The log benches with back rests, laid out in two columns of four rows, provide seating for educational programs.
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Paradise Day Use Area's Amphitheater Bench Timber Construction View - Willamette National Forest OR
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Paradise Amphitheater View from the River Bank - Willamette National Forest OR
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Paradise Amphitheater View toward the McKenzie River - Willamette National Forest OR
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Paradise Day Use Area Cook Stove - Willamette National Fore
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Paradise Cook Stove - Willamette National Forest OR
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Sign for the Paradise Amphitheater - Willamette National Forest OR
Source notes
"Camp Belknap," CCC-Vancouver Barracks Report - 1937. pp. 114-117 & 146.
"Paradise Day Use Area," Willamette National Forest. US Forest Service Website (Viewed August 13, 2022): https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recarea/?recid=4381
Rakestraw, Lawrence & Mary (1991) History of the Willamette National Forest. USDA - Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region. p. 111.
Silvermoon, Jon (1984) Cultural Resource Inventory, Site Evaluation, and Mitigation Report for the McKenzie Ranger Site Development Project and Belknap Civilian Conservation Corps Camp. District Archaeologist Report, Willamette National Forest, McKenzie Ranger District. July 18, 1984.
Project originally submitted by Jim Reed on September 10, 2022.
Additional contributions by Judith T Kenny & Tom Hubka.
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