Stub Stewart marks State Parks Day with free parking, star party on June 6

Parking will be free for Oregon residents at L.L. "Stub" Stewart State Park on June 6, when Oregon State Parks waives day-use fees at parks across the state for State Parks Day. Stub Stewart will cap the day with a summer star party, the return of an evening series hosted with OMSI, Rose City Astronomers and Oregon State Parks. Visitors can look through telescopes, take in an OMSI presentation and join a ranger-led night hike to spot the park's after-dark wildlife. The event is held at the Hilltop Day-Use Area. Organizers suggest bringing warm layers, flashlights set to red-light mode and personal telescopes. Leashed pets are welcome, and the park can arrange accessibility accommodations with advance notice. The waiver comes after a year of higher parking costs. Day-use parking fees at Stub Stewart and other Oregon parks doubled to $10 in 2025, and visits to the park's day-use areas fell nearly 39% to 153,248 even as overnight camping held steady, the Banks Post reported in February. Nearby, the 21-mile Banks-Vernonia State Trail linking Banks and Vernonia added its own parking fees in March. Oregon Parks and Recreation does not receive general fund tax dollars. It relies on user fees, a share of state lottery revenue and recreational vehicle registration fees, and the agency faces a projected budget shortfall. State Parks Day has marked the start of the busy summer season since 1998. Park crews spent recent months clearing storm damage and downed trees and upgrading electrical, water and sewer lines, the agency said. "State Parks Day is a commemoration of the places that connect us to Oregon's natural beauty and to one another," said Stefanie Coons, interim director of Oregon Parks and Recreation. "We appreciate everyone who helps keep these spaces vibrant and welcoming." Beyond Stub Stewart, State Parks Day events are planned at The Cove Palisades, Shore Acres, LaPine and Prineville Reservoir state parks, ranging from a botanical garden showcase to a guided hike to the world's largest ponderosa pine. A full list is posted on the Oregon State Parks event calendar.