Prescott Park Development – Medford OR

Description

From 1933 to 1942, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed Prescott Park on Roxy Ann Peak on the east side of Medford, Oregon for public recreation.  The CCC enrollees constructed the access road, 18 miles of trails, several picnic areas and overlooks, and drainage ditches. Much of the CCC work is above the parking area and accessible only on foot.

Prescott Park covers 1,740 acres on Roxy Ann Peak, a prominent hill east of the city of Medford (a remnant of volcanism in the old West Cascades). The lower slopes are characterized by oak savanna woodland and the higher elevations by mixed conifer forest. While the park ecology remains largely undisturbed, housing had crept up the lower slopes. 

 The city acquired the land, which is outside the city limits, between 1930 and 1933 and officially opened the park in 1937.  The CCC made the original improvements to the park.  Years later, the park had deteriorated badly until the city renovated the road in 1998.