Roseburg Council Approves Expanded Stewart Park Master Plan Update

Roseburg’s plan for Stewart Park will get its first major update in more than 25 years, with a wider look at how the park connects to Gaddis Park, the riverfront, and downtown.

The City Council approved a professional services contract with Cameron McCarthy on Monday for up to $289,020. Council also authorized a $125,000 grant agreement with The Ford Family Foundation to help fund the work. Both motions passed without opposition in the meeting vote.

The project covers the 236-acre Stewart Park area, including the natural area, golf course, Fir Grove, and Riverfront Park. It also includes Gaddis Park, nearby trails and waterfront areas, and the Umpqua Greenway. Council asked staff earlier this month to add the greenway, an approximately 10-acre corridor connecting Gaddis Park toward downtown, to the scope.

The update will guide decisions about the park and riverfront over the next 20 years. It does not decide now which new amenities, if any, will be built.

That distinction came up during council’s discussion. When Councilor Tom Michalek asked how the city could plan without first knowing what residents want in the park, staff explained that gathering those ideas is part of the consultant’s job. Cameron McCarthy will develop three design alternatives based in part on public feedback before preparing a draft plan.

The planned outreach includes three public open houses: one early in the process, one to review the design alternatives, and one to comment on the draft. The consultant also plans interviews, conversations with community groups, outreach to schools, and opportunities for residents to give input at public events. The city expects to post project updates online and offer monthly email updates.

The city plans to use $164,020 from its Park Improvement Fund alongside the Ford Family Foundation grant. That city amount includes $14,020 from reserves for future expenditures. Staff said a supplemental budget will still be needed to formally account for the grant and reserve funding.

Work on the plan is expected to take approximately 12 months, with completion anticipated in fall 2027.

The Monday's city council agenda can be found here.