Oregon Rep. Cyrus Javadi Proposes Free State Park Parking for Residents

State Rep. Cyrus Javadi, a Democrat from Tillamook, announced plans to introduce a bill in 2027 that would eliminate parking fees at Oregon state parks for state residents. Javadi said the measure would make public lands more affordable, especially for low‑income Oregonians, and framed parks as a public good.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, which manages 250 parks across more than 113,000 acres, relies on lottery proceeds, user fees and federal funds for its $393.4 million two‑year budget. Agency spokesperson Lauren Wirtis warned that free parking would create a substantial budget gap, and the department has not identified a stable funding source to cover it. The agency recently faced a 14 % shortfall and raised some fees to address the deficit, but the financial impact of eliminating parking fees remains uncertain.