Oregon Outdoors: Trails and Day-Use Plan Approved for Newell Creek

A plan to put trails and a day-use plan in place in Newell Creek Canyon has been adopted by Metro.

It's a big step forward for the area that has, at times, been overrun by homeless, covered in garbage, and generally neglected.

The plan will create a plan to guide day-use of the area and set up a trail system through part of the canyon.

There will be a bathroom, shelters, signage, an area for off-road cycling.

Most of it, though, will remain in its natural state.

The plan would be to have the trails open by Fall 2017.

When it is open, it will be open to everyone - except, as it turns out, people with dogs.

The Oregonian reports that because dog owners never raised the issue during public hearings, Metro - which bans dogs from several parks, banned them from this one as well.