The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has unveiled a rendering of what the new welcome center at Smith Rock State Park could look like.

The drawing, released Friday, shows two buildings surrounded by native vegetation and rock pillars. One of the buildings has a large glass wall and angled roof.

Construction of the buildings is expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026. The construction plans also include trail connections and an improved day-use parking area. Park officials expect the day-use parking area to be substantially reduced during construction. The park will know more about the impacts to visitors as construction gets closer, officials said in a news release Friday.

Smith Rock — one of Oregon’s most popular tourist attractions and world-renowned among rock climbers — received an updated master plan a year ago. Priorities for park managers include easing congestion, improving accessibility and enhancing the visitor experience.

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Funding was made possible from bond funds approved by the Oregon Legislature in 2021 and a $1.6 million Land and Water Conservation grant from the National Park Service.

An online information session to describe the project in detail is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday. Advance registration is required to attend. Registration can be found at https://tinyurl.com/y9w5tmdk