The Brent Oliver 541 Foundation is evaluating Jubilee Lake improvements

By Terry Murry on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

MILTON-FREEWATER – The Brent Oliver 541 Foundation is founded by a man who doesn’t let being a partial quadriplegic dictate what he can – and can’t – do. Oliver nearly lost his life in a crash in the early 1990s and he has steadfastly refused to give up his love for the outdoors because of the challenges to his body.

“A lot of people in his circumstances, they love the outdoors,” Umatilla County Commissioner John Shafer said. “They love getting up into the mountains and doing things. But then, they have these accidents and that’s taken away from them.”

Oliver is focusing on a possible project at Jubilee Lake on the Umatilla National Forest and he recently told the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners about it. He wants to refurbish the existing trail around the lake to improve accessibility not just for people with mobility challenges, but for senior citizens and the general public as well.

“The foundation is currently in discussion with local sponsors and advocates to help fund the project and move it forward,” he states on his website. “The U.S. Forest Service has agreed to allow testing related to this effort after Labor Day.”

More information about the foundation can be found at Brent Oliver 541 Foundation.