Freeway Lakes County Park Awaits Improvements

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The Freeway Lakes County Park near Albany, Oregon has seen better days, with a missing floating dock and other issues. The county is working on a new master plan for its park system, but has no immediate plans to address the problems at this semi-urban recreation area with three lakes and 56 acres. The last master plan in 2008 recommended various improvements, but those have yet to materialize.

Why it matters

Freeway Lakes is a popular destination for boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities near Albany, but its aging infrastructure and lack of updates have diminished the visitor experience in recent years. As Linn County develops a new parks master plan, there are questions about whether this semi-urban recreation area will finally get the renovations and upgrades recommended over a decade ago.

The details

When the author visited Freeway Lakes County Park in February 2026, he found the floating dock at the boat ramp had been removed, even though the county's website still featured a photo of it. The park overall looked well-maintained, but volunteers have had to step in to handle tasks like clearing away trash and building picnic tables, as the county has not made improvements a priority. The 2008 parks master plan had suggested upgrades like better signage, a day-use area, parking lot improvements, and making the site fully ADA accessible, but those recommendations have gone unaddressed.

• The author last canoed the Freeway Lakes in June 2018.
• The Linn County Parks and Recreation Department's current master plan was published in 2008.
• The author visited Freeway Lakes and found the floating dock missing in February 2026.

What’s next

Linn County is currently developing a new master plan for its parks system, which could outline future improvements to Freeway Lakes County Park, but no timeline has been set for when those upgrades might be implemented.