BEND, OR -- A new group hopes to address what it calls the deteriorating condition of Bend's geographical landmark, Pilot Butte. Save Pilot Butte wants to increase public awareness about the condition at the butte. Roger Stanton hopes they can make it easier for the general public to get involved in preservation efforts at the state park.

"We have a challenge," Stanton tells KBND News. "The Butte is going into demise. The only way we're going to be able to change that is to bring public awareness strong enough to the Oregon State Parks Department so that they should do something about it; because people care!"

Stanton adds, "Oregon State Parks Department says they don't have the funding. I'm going 'why do you need funding and money when you have people that are willing to donate materials, donate their backs, be up there and working on Pilot Butte.'"

Save Pilot Butte joins Pilot Butte Partners and Pilot Butte Summit Seekers in efforts to address needed improvements on the heavily used landmark. The State Parks Department his holding a meeting at the Pilot Butte parking lot Thursday at noon, where members of all three groups plan to share concerns about how they can help maintain the butte.