Bringing Wellness and Connectivity to the McKenzie River Valley
In Blue River, recovery has never been only about rebuilding what the Holiday Farm Fire took in 2020. It's about building something better: a community where kids can walk or bike safely to town, neighbors can meet along the way, and everyday movement is part of daily life.
That idea drives Three Sisters Meadow, a community-led vision for the former Mill Site in Blue River. The plan is a campus for wellness, outdoor recreation, conservation and ecotourism, innovation and entrepreneurship, and community life. A key piece of that vision is a new multimodal pathway linking the school to downtown Blue River and, eventually, to Blue River Park.
Why the Pathway Matters
Along OR-126, walking or biking between local destinations has long meant sharing the shoulder of a busy highway. A dedicated path changes that. It gives students a safe route to school and gives families a car-free way to reach local businesses. It also gives visitors a reason to slow down and stay. It turns Three Sisters Meadow from a single site into part of a connected, walkable community.
A Partnership Built for the Long
Haul
McKenzie Community Land Trust (MCLT) anchors Three Sisters Meadow in community ownership and long-term stewardship. Its network of local partner organizations keeps the project grounded in what residents actually need.
IncubatorU leads the overall vision and coordination. It uses its five-step approach (Imagine, Identify, Initiate, Implement, Integrate) to tie the pathway to the valley's broader revitalization.
BESThq brings construction and delivery expertise, so plans can be built practically, affordably, and in phases the community can sustain.
Murkley Architects is shaping how the pathway and its connections look and feel, including the gathering points, gateways, and design details that make a trail a place people want to be.
TBG Land Planning provides the technical groundwork, such as alignment, right-of-way, and the planning analysis that turns a line on a map into a buildable route.
Putting the Path to Work: Move Oregon
A pathway only reaches its potential when people use it. That's where Move Oregon comes in. As the programming partner, Move Oregon will bring the route to life with activities that get people outside and moving together. These include community walks and rides, school and family activities, and events that connect neighbors to downtown and the park.
Move Oregon's Community Catalyst approach builds local leaders who champion active, connected living. Its programs follow Positive Coaching Alliance values and use NatureDose to measure time spent outdoors, so the community can see the difference the pathway makes. With Blue River as its flagship hub, the McKenzie Valley becomes a model other Oregon communities can learn from.
More Than a Path
A pathway like this does quiet, lasting work. It encourages kids to walk and ride, brings more foot traffic to downtown businesses, and invites residents and visitors alike to explore the valley on foot and by bike. Together with Three Sisters Meadow and Move Oregon's programming, it helps position the McKenzie Valley as a place known for wellness, outdoor recreation, and resilience.
The first leg, from the school to downtown, is the starting point. Extending it to Blue River Park will tie the heart of the community together.
Get Involved
Three Sisters Meadow succeeds when the community shapes it. Watch for chances to share your ideas, join a Move Oregon walk or ride, and help chart the route. Every step we take together brings Blue River closer to a safer, healthier, more connected future.
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