Philippi Park

Albert Philippi Park was established in 1972 to provide facilities and recreation opportunities to boaters on the John Day River. For over four decades, this boat-in-only park served as an oasis to thousands of visitors annually. After budget shortfalls forced the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to close Philippi Park in 2013, the Opal Foundation acted immediately and successfully re-opened and restored the campground by 2016. Partnering with USACE has enabled the Opal Foundation to renew and restore outdoor recreational entities in local communities.

As an all-volunteer organization, Opal successfully involved community members, businesses, and government agencies to support the development of Philippi Park. The Opal Foundation continues to support the Philippi Park project every season by providing:

• Landscaping of the park (mowing, weed whacking, tilling/cleaning the beach, seeding).
• Landscape cleanup (removal of debris, fallen trees, branches).
• Cleaning and maintaining bathrooms.
• Paying for electricity (bathrooms, sheds, yurt).
• Posting signage (campground rules, boundaries, notices, and general information for campers).
• Removing invasive plants.
• Planting and watering new trees and shrubs.
• Restocking/providing ice to campers.
• Providing/removing sprinkler guards.
• Ensuring park lighting.
• Maintaining and supplying equipment (mower, tractor, chainsaws, weed whackers, pressure washer, saws, utility vehicles, tools).
• Trail maintenance.
• Recreation equipment rental.
• Regular inspections and repairs to the sprinkler system.
• Regular inspections and repairs to bathrooms.
• Regular maintenance of docks.
• Replacing bathroom cleaning supplies.
• Replacing bathroom necessities (toilet paper, hand soap, feminine hygiene bags).
• Providing a camp host throughout the season.
• Creating a clean, safe, and respectful environment for all campers.
• Maintaining and repairing the yurt.

John Day River Revival

The John Day River acts as an oasis to those who simply love nature. Thousands of visitors use this waterway for recreational opportunities annually, including swimming, kayaking, bird watching, fishing, boating, and water skiing. However, the Opal Foundation has been forced to close swimming areas to campers and day users at Philippi Park due to algae blooms and excessive seaweed.

Opal Foundation has developed a plan to restore the swimming and mooring areas by 2027. The aim of this plan is to tackle the seaweed issue head-on by increasing water flow and removing the existing seaweed/algae for a fresh start. We plan on using a combination of heavy-duty aquatic weed rakes and rollers to decrease the seaweed/algae growth while ensuring minimal environmental impact.

Opal Foundation also intends to host annual volunteer cleanup days that focus on the areas in and around the water. Being 100% powered by volunteers makes community involvement essential to the success of Philippi Park. Opal Foundation aims to invite members of the community and surrounding areas to participate in cleaning up the John Day River waterways and beach areas to enhance recreational opportunities. Volunteers will be asked to take part in seaweed removal, garbage and debris removal, and planting new shrubs and trees along the bank to protect the park from erosion.