A new state audit found safety inspections are not consistently being completed or documented at some Oregon state parks.

The audit, released by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Audits Division, examined operations at overnight campgrounds and found required inspections at multiple parks were missed or undocumented – in some cases for years.

“Oregonians love their state parks and have been able to safely enjoy them for decades,” Secretary of State Tobias Read said. “The findings in this audit will help protect that important legacy and our public dollars.”

Auditors found that buildings used by employees, many of which are also accessed by the public, volunteers, and contractors, were not consistently inspected as required under OSHA rules and agency policy.

At least one location had no inspection records for three years.

Beyond safety inspections, the audit also identified significant problems with how the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) tracks its assets.

According to the report, the agency’s asset management system contains unreliable and incomplete data, including missing records, untracked equipment, and items incorrectly labeled as inactive or missing.

Auditors say those gaps increase the risk of lost property, inaccurate financial reporting, and inadequate insurance coverage.

“These problems risk Oregonians’ safety and taxpayer money through avoidable lawsuits and fines,” the Secretary of State’s office wrote in a press release.

The audit issued eight recommendations, including the need to establish consistent inspection protocols, improve training and accountability, and replace the agency’s outdated asset management system.

In response, a spokesperson for OPRD said it agrees with the findings and has already begun making changes.

“OPRD thanks and acknowledges the audit’s findings and appreciates the Audits Division’s work,” said Interim Director Stefanie Coons. “The safety of our visitors and the protection of Oregon’s state parks have always guided our decisions, and we remain committed to strengthening the systems that support that responsibility.”

The agency says improvements were already underway during the audit and include updating policies, strengthening safety practices, and modernizing its asset tracking system. Officials say new fees will help fund upgrades to ensure the system is functional moving forward.

Oregon’s state park system sees roughly 51 million visitors each year and includes more than 250 properties, over 2,000 buildings, and a wide range of infrastructure, from campgrounds and restrooms to roads, docks, and historic structures.

The Department does not regularly receive state general fund dollars. It is primarily funded through visitor fees, lottery funds, and recreational vehicle registration fees.

Auditors say improving oversight will be key to ensuring those assets and the people who use them are properly protected.

Read the full audit below:

Staff at Oregon’s state parks failed to complete safety inspections of park buildings and kept inconsistent records of state property, according to an audit released April 1 by the Oregon Secretary of State.

The problems, auditors found, could risk visitor safety and taxpayer money due to lawsuits and fines if not addressed.

“Oregonians love their state parks and have been able to safely enjoy them for decades,” Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read said in a statement. “The findings in this audit will help protect that important legacy and our public dollars.”

The audit was the latest hit in what’s been a rough stretch for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, which faces a multimillion revenue shortfall and has responded with a series of unpopular fee increases and program cuts.

In response to the audit, OPRD issued a statement saying agency officials agreed with the report’s findings “and have already begun implementing improvements, many of which were underway during the audit.”

Interim director Stefanie Coons added: “The safety of our visitors and the protection of Oregon’s state parks have always guided our decisions, and we remain committed to strengthening the systems that support that responsibility.”

The audit period covered June 2022 to June 2025.

OPRD doesn’t complete building safety inspections, audit finds

Auditors found that “OPRD doesn’t consistently complete or document required building inspections.”  

“When inspections are missed or aren’t recorded, it could lead to injuries to the public and reduce confidence in the safety of Oregon’s parks,” the audit said. “These gaps could affect staff safety, limit OPRD’s ability to identify hazards early and respond properly and may result in regulatory fines.”

The areas inspected were located at overnight campgrounds that offer tent and RV camping and have restrooms.

Oregon State Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a woman who went missing after getting into a person’s vehicle when she ran out of gas on Highway 22 on March 28.

Maria Linda Jade Kilmer, 28, was driving from Lyons to Salem when her car ran out of fuel near milepost 15 just west of Stayton at 9 p.m. A passenger who was traveling with Kilmer told police she left with an unidentified motorist who stopped at the scene.

Police describe Kilmer as having dark hair, blue eyes and is approximately 5-feet-8-inches tall. She weighs 180 pounds. She frequents areas in the Willamette Valley from Salem to Portland, an OSP spokesperson said, and has a piercing in the middle of her lower lip.

Kilmer left her keys, purse, identification, phone and other belongings. She has not been seen since.

Police ask anyone with information to call 911 or Oregon State Police dispatch at *677.

Eder Campuzano is the local news editor for the Statesman Journal. He can can be reached at ecampuzano@statesmanjournal.com. Find him on Bluesky at @ederc.bsky.social or Threads @ederc.