LEBANON - A sesquicentennial monument and Youth Legacy Grant project improvements produced by Lebanon area youth were dedicated Wednesday at Lebanon's Cheadle Lake.

The city of Lebanon received a $37,175 grant to help fund $94,905 in improvements at Cheadle Lake. Youth were involved in designing and building interpretive signs for a shoreline walking trail and a 5,100-foot water trail; building safety fencing; laying gravel; removing invasive plants, and helping design phase 2 improvements.

Former Gov. Barbara Roberts was among the speakers at the event, one of five dedications of Youth Legacy Grant projects co-sponsored by Oregon 150 and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Other ceremonies have recognized the completion of projects in Seaside, Hood River and Creswell. The final project will be dedicated Saturday at Grass Valley.

A $202,425 allocation from OPRD's ongoing lottery-supported Local Government Grants program helped fund all five projects. Established as one-time efforts to commemorate Oregon's sesquicentennial, the projects were intended to produce contributions of lasting value to the communities while reconnecting youth with nature. The grants required applicants to involve local youth in the projects.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff, representatives of the South Santiam Watershed Council, landscape designers and city of Lebanon staff worked with youth. At-risk children from Lebanon, Scio, Sweet Home and rural Linn County also were involved in the work, which also was designed to develop leadership, communications and transferable job skills.

Democrat-Herald