Visitor center in Fossil poised for growth says local and state leaders

There is still some community interest in the Oregon Paleo Lands Institute.

That was the conclusion of professionally facilitated forum on May 11th at the center in Fossil.

The Ford Family Foundation continues to support OPLI's struggles to provide information on the public fossil collection area on school grounds 8 blocks to the North. A Good Neighbor grant awarded in late 2023 allowed board leaders to engage Growing Assets LLC to help write a new strategy and business plan for the Paleo Lands Center.

Twenty members of the local community showed up to talk about what and how the Center could improve its services. All agreed that the center has great potential and has developed some important new policies that has set the foundation to be a strong local and regional resource.

Recent work completed by the OPLI Board include updated memorandums of understanding agreements with the Fossil School District and the City of Fossil. All parties have agreed to improve communication and work to improve the visitor experience to the Center and public collection sites in Fossil.

Led by OPLI, the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission, in 2023, awarded conditional natural heritage recognition for the collection area on school grounds. This designation has previously only been available to rare living plant communities in Oregon. OPLI and the School district made the case that this ancient plant community set in stone 30 million years ago is worthy of special state recognition. We now have 5 years to complete a management plan for the site which will include restoring disturbed areas.

OPLI's new draft strategy was shared on May 11th with attendees. Everyone agreed focusing all efforts on the fossil beds found at the school should be a priority. Sharing and conserving the uniqueness of the site is now a focused priority. The collection site is the only private quarry allowing public collection in Oregon.

Many locals expressed the desire to have the Center open more hours and suggested improvements in signage on school grounds were two reoccurring themes at the forum. Board members are currently working on a smart phone scannable QR code that could be posted at the center, the collection site, around town and in regional visitor guides. This code will provide background on the geologic formation, past resource assessments conducted by DOGAMI and a site map of the collection area along with use guidelines.

The working volunteer Board at OPLI continues to seek additional resources to meet the local community's expectations. OPLI is recruiting for 3 additional Board members this year to assist in writing new grants and improving the visitor experiences in and around Fossil Oregon.