BEND, OR -- Oregon Governor Kate Brown ceremonially signed HB 3350 Friday, creating the Office of Outdoor Recreation. As part of Oregon Parks and Rec, the new Office will be responsible for coordinating outdoor recreation policy across agencies with retailers, companies, tour operators, and other organizations.
Governor Brown spoke to the community leaders and business owners gathered at Entre-Prises, a Bend-based fabricator of indoor climbing walls, thanking them for their part in creating the Outdoor Office bill. "I'm very excited about melding our love for the outdoors with growing really interesting Oregon businesses."
She says Oregon's outdoor recreation and retail industry supports over 20,000 jobs, and contributes $3 billion to working families, so the new Office has a vested interest in seeing Oregon's outdoor recreational retailers and venues reach their full potential. "Oregonians share a special connection to the outdoors. It's at the core of who we are. That's why Oregon is home to several outdoor retail and recreational companies whose products are on the cutting edge of innovation."
Governor Brown says that outdoor recreation is an activity that helps her 'find her center.'
