Smith Rock State Park is set to receive more than $1.6 million to revamp its welcome center and improve other amenities in the park.

The funds will be used to build a new accessible restroom, outdoor plaza and gathering area at the park’s welcome center. Improvements will be made to the Rim Rock Trail, which extends in both directions from the welcome center.

The parking area will also be renovated and expanded to accommodate larger vehicles and buses, with room for a bus drop off as well.

U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Tuesday that the park will receive the National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to “boost visitor experience,” according to a press release.

According to Matt Davey, Smith Rock park manager, the park pursued the grant due to the estimated project cost being much higher than initially expected and this grant is “helping to supplement that cost,” Davey said.

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“Smith Rock State Park stands out as one of our state’s most beloved natural treasures and a hugely popular site for Oregonians and visitors alike,” Wyden said in the press release. “These federal resources for this Central Oregon centerpiece will ensure it’s a welcome place to visit for years to come.”

Davey said design planning should wrap up by fall 2025 with construction beginning soon after and continuing through 2026.

“Oregon’s public parks and lands are core to our quality of life and state’s economy, and it’s essential to make investments that keep these special places safe, up-to-date, and accessible,” said Merkley, who is the chair of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations subcommittee.

The park improvements are among many changes outlined in the Smith Rock State Park master plan approved by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department in 2023. The park is the region’s most popular state park with more than 800,000 visitors per year.