Jubilee Lake accessibility project advances as advocates lobby D.C.

MILTON-FREEWATER — Work is officially underway on a multi-partner project to restore accessibility at Jubilee Lake, the most heavily used recreation site in the Umatilla National Forest.

The Brent Oliver 541 Foundation, based in Milton-Freewater, announced that crews completed test paving on approximately 200 feet of the trail last week. The trial sections will undergo a full winter cycle to evaluate their durability and performance before larger construction efforts begin next fall.

Crews paving a portion of trail at Jubilee Lake

The multi-year, multi-phase project aims to rehabilitate the trail corridor to ensure meaningful access for families, seniors, and individuals using mobility devices. Foundation organizers plan to resume work each autumn until the entire trail is fully restored.

Following the initial paving, foundation founder Brent Oliver and other representatives traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to meet with congressional leaders regarding outdoor access legislation for people with disabilities.

Oliver visiting Washington, D.C.

Oliver reported holding productive meetings on Tuesday with representatives from California, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, and the Congressional Western Caucus to advocate for public lands accessibility and the Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Meaningful access matters,” Oliver shared in a statement. “We are here to ensure that Americans with disabilities have meaningful access to our public lands and outdoor spaces.”

Top photo: Portion of restored trail at Jubilee Lake. All photos courtesy Brent Oliver 541 Foundation

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Elkhorn Media Group