Friends of Bandon Parks and Recreation

03/10/2026

Wade and Sarah dropped off an amazing load of bikes, balls, and sports gear for the Bandon Community Youth Center! 🚴‍♂️🏀 These donations help support a place where local kids can learn, play, and grow together. Thank you for your support! Without you FOBPR wouldn't be able to do what they do!

01/09/2026

2026 Native Species Internships. Apply now! South Coast high school students can get hands on experience and earn a high school credit as a nursery intern at Stillwater Natives Nursery and Bandon. The Friends of Bandon Parks and Recreation, a non-profit 501c3 organization, and Stillwater Natives are collaborating for a second year, offering internships to students 16 years or older. Darcy Grahek, nursery owner, will assist students gain experience with the organic growing of native nursery plants. This year’s program runs from February 10 through June 2, taking the same breaks as the schools. A second session for two new interns begins next September. Local High School students receive a work credit from their school for the semester. A stipend of $800 is provided by Friends of Bandon Parks and Recreation upon completion of the internship. For more information and/or an application, send an email to [email protected]

12/07/2025

Bandon City Park Master Plan Advisory Committee Update. Last year the City of Bandon advertised for volunteers to serve in an advisory capacity to guide the new master plan for our City Park.

With funds from a grant, Bandon employed a landscape architectural firm specializing in parks to work on the plan with our citizen volunteers. Two preliminary meetings open to the public were held this past year to present ideas and gain community feedback. The input from those meetings resulted in this proposed plan, which is still under review and further discussion with input sought from the community. You can review the current status of the DRAFT Final City Park Master Plan at https://www.bandon-or.gov/planning/page/city-park-master-plan The City of Bandon currently does not have a Parks and Recreation Department, Commission, or budget. This is the first step to approve a master plan so all future park projects can have funding sought in grants and donations to meet the plan. There is no current funding attached to this project, but the plan will allow for projects within the scope of the plan to be pursued.

The citizen committee is working with recreational groups, plant enthusiasts, team sports, and more to get their opinion on the plan. We invite you to share your thoughts as well. You are welcome to provide your comments to the City of Bandon at [email protected] (please use Parks Master Plan Comments in the subject line). Or you can reach out to Laura Brownfield, a volunteer member of the committee, at [email protected] with input. Thanks so much!

UPDATE: 11.20.2025   Bandon City Park Advisory Committee  OPEN HOUSE DEBRIEF MEETING. Items discussed: 1) community input to-date; 2) priority projects; 3) continued outreach strategy; 4) adoption process.   Meeting Date: 11/20/2025 Next Steps: Advisory Committee refinement of the DRAFT Final Mas...

11/06/2025

The Friends of Bandon Parks & Recreation has partnered with the local VFW Post to landscape the south side of their property. The dedication ceremony will be at 11 am on November 11th at the south side of the VFW Post. Their annual Veterans Day BBQ will follow. This project was coordinated with the VFW Post Adjutant, Donnie Wise.

Three Jeffrey Pines trees and 10 Blue Blossom shrubs were planted at the south side of the VFW post by gardener Luis Campos. The cardboard was donated by McKay’s and delivered by Samantha Stanger of Samsara Sound Baths. The mulch was donated by Michael and Darcy Grahek of Stillwater Natives Nursery. The plants were purchased by Friends of Bandon Parks and Recreation. Darcy Grahek designed the landscaping and provided the plants.

Frank C High Medal of Honor VFW Post 3440
55352 Bates Road, Bandon, OR 97411

Send a message to learn more

09/10/2025

Congratulations to our FOBPR Advisor, Margaret Pounder!

07/15/2025

07/15/2025

Wade Troxell - GBA Volunteer of the Month

Wade Troxell and his wife, Sharon, moved from Texas to Bandon
in September 2022 after entering retirement. Wade spent 30
years with Target Corporation as a Senior Distribution Director
leading a major distribution center operation in east Texas for 22
years. Wade is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy
and served as an Artillery Officer in the United States Marine
Corps for six years. Wade and Sharon have three adult children
and one grandchild. Wade volunteers at the Bandon Marsh
National Wildlife Refuge serving as a property steward. He is an
avid bird watcher and enjoys being outdoors on local early
morning excursions. Prior to joining FOBPR as Treasurer, he
volunteered with Bandon’s Parks and Recreation Commission.
Wade currently serves as Executive Vice-President and Treasurer
for Friends of Bandon Parks and Recreation. Wade was the
project manager for the 2nd Annual Bike Rodeo held at Ocean
Crest Elementary School and for FOBPR’s participation in their
Health Fair. Last year, he helped manage FOBPR’s Cranberry
Festival table and activities. He recently organized the donation of
playground toys for the Community Health Center. Wade was
instrumental in securing a generous grant from the City’s State
Revenue Sharing fund to help support FOBPR’s work in the
community on behalf of parkland and recreation.
Calm and good humored, Wade is a joy to work with and brings
knowledge and insight to every task.

05/30/2025

Friends of Bandon Parks & Recreation supports Native Species Plant Internships for local high school students. This program is directed by Darcy Grahek, a respected local expert in native plant species. Here's her message to you:

If you are interested in donating, please mail a check and a note that says “Interns” to the non-profit that provides the stipends to our interns: Friends of Bandon Parks & Recreation. Their mailing address:

FOBPR, 1130 Baltimore Ave SE # 2, Bandon, OR 97411-9136

Or you can donate using PayPal at their website: https://fobpr.com/

Their email address is: [email protected]

Thank you!

Darcy Grahek
Stillwater Natives nursery
53701 Beach Loop, Bandon Oregon
http://www.stillwaternativesnursery.com
541-260-2182

04/21/2025

For more information, contact Sulwyn De Crozuc, Planning Dept, # 541-347-7922 or by email at [email protected]

03/27/2025

The presentation on March 26th by Dougherty Landscape Architects on Planning the Future of our Park is attached as photos of their poster boards. This public meeting was held at the Barn from 5 to 7 pm.

The City Planning Department promises a subsequent Open House to present the evolution of the plan based on input from citizens. We were told that tonight's presentation will soon be on the City of Bandon website along with the opportunity for the public to make comments about what they'd like to see at City Park.

03/24/2025

https://www.bandon-or.gov/planning/page/update-city-park-masterplan-openhouse-date-correction