Holman State Wayside

Holman State Wayside
Holman State Wayside is located in Oregon
Holman State Wayside
Holman State Wayside is located in the United States
Holman State Wayside
TypePublic, state
LocationPolk County, Oregon
Nearest citySalem
Coordinates44°55′56″N 123°06′24″W / 44.9323415°N 123.1067646°W / 44.9323415; -123.1067646[1]
Area10 acres (4 ha)
Operated byOregon Parks and Recreation Department

Holman State Wayside is a state park in Polk County, Oregon, United States, on Oregon Route 22 at the foot of the Eola Hills near the community of Eola. The wayside is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department but was closed to vehicular traffic in 2007 because of ongoing problems with criminal activity.[2]

The site was purchased by the State of Oregon in 1922.[2] The land was originally owned by Thomas and Cora Holman, who had long allowed the public to water their stock and drink at a natural spring on the property, a purpose it had served since pioneer times.[3] The 10-acre (4 ha) park is on a hillside forested with Douglas-firs, Oregon white oaks and bigleaf maples, and has picnic tables and a walking trail.[2][3]

Bicycle and pedestrian traffic is still permitted in the park, although the restrooms have been demolished since 2013. In 2007, the Parks and Recreation Department said the closure of the wayside was temporary while solutions to the park's problems were discussed,[4][5] and held a public hearing regarding the future of the wayside.[6]

  1. ^ "Holman State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Barry, Dan (November 18, 2007). "A Park That Ran With the Wrong Crowd". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Bannan, Jan Gumprecht (2002). Oregon State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide. The Mountaineers. p. 133. ISBN 0-89886-794-0.
  4. ^ "Holman Wayside will close Thursday, July 26" (Press release). Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. July 24, 2007. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  5. ^ "Vehicles banned from Oregon park with history of drug, public sex activity". The Seattle Times. November 8, 2007. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  6. ^ "Holman Wayside's future subject of public meeting September 25" (Press release). Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. September 10, 2007. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2009.