New Minto-Brown Expansion Plans Get the Green Light

Salem, OR · June 9, 2026

Grab your walking shoes—the clouds are hanging low this morning, but the path forward for our largest park just got a lot clearer after last night's vote.

📰 The Lead

The City Council gave the final nod last night to the Minto-Brown Island Park Master Plan update, setting the stage for the most significant changes to the 1,200-acre site in a decade. The approved plan prioritizes habitat restoration along the Willamette slough while adding three miles of new soft-surface trails in the southern conservation zone. Residents can expect to see the first phase of work—focused on improved signage and trailhead parking near the dog park—begin later this summer. This decision follows months of public testimony where neighbors balanced the desire for more recreation with the need to protect nesting bald eagles. The city will now move into the permitting phase for the new pedestrian boardwalks designed to keep hikers' feet dry during the winter flood season.

🏙️ Local Pulse

  • Liberty Street Paving Begins — Expect delays between Division and Trade Streets today as crews begin a three-day resurfacing project.

  • Graduation Season Kickoff — High school seniors across the district begin their final walk across the stage this evening at the Pavilion.

  • Northgate Coffee Opening — A new locally-owned espresso bar opens its doors on Portland Road today with half-off drinks until noon.

🌦️ Today's Outlook

  • High 62°F · Low 52°F — Drizzle (36% chance of precipitation)
    • Keep the light jacket handy for that damp morning walk to the office.

📅 What's On Around Town

  • Tuesday Farmers Market — Marion Square Park, 9:30 AM–3:00 PM Fresh strawberries and local greens are hitting their peak season right now.

  • Keizer: Backyard Composting 101 — Keizer Community Center, 6:00 PM Learn how to turn kitchen scraps into garden gold at this free workshop.

  • Live Jazz Night — Venti’s Cafe + Taphouse (Downtown), 7:00 PM Local trio performs smooth standards in the basement lounge—no cover charge.

  • Independence: Sunset Yoga — Riverview Park, 7:30 PM A short drive south for a guided session as the sun dips low.

📸 Spotlight & Story

  • Waldo Park
    • Tucked away at the corner of Union and Summer Streets, this 12-by-20-foot plot consists entirely of a single Giant Sequoia. Planted in 1872 by Judge William Waldo, the tree became an official city park in 1936 to prevent it from being cut down for road expansion.

Salem Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

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