PRINEVILLE, OR -- Barnes Butte has been a popular spot for Prineville residents and visitors, since it was purchased by the city last year. But, the 460 acres of open space is still without a Master Plan.

The effort received a big boost, this week, with a new $25,000 grant from the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program. Barnes Butte already has walking trails. But, a formal Master Plan in 2019 will lay out the future of the park. "We're in the rare position to create a community asset that can be enjoyed and appreciated for generations of Prineville residents as well as visitors to our beautiful city," Prineville Mayor Betty Roppe said in a statement. "That's a responsibility we take seriously, and why public involvement is so important."

The Barnes Butte project is one of 40 across the west to receive assistance from the RTCA program in 2019.