Medford considers partial ban on Bear Creek Greenway camping

Jenna King February 10, 2021

Last Updated: February 10, 2021

MEDFORD, Ore. —The city of Medford is considering banning camping on the Bear Creek Greenway.

If passed, it would make it a misdemeanor to sleep or camp anywhere along the Greenway between May 1st and September 30th.

The city says it would reduce the risk of fire, in the hot summer months.

The ordinance would also apply to other Medford areas prone to fire.

“Greenways pose a lot of challenges in emergency situations and so in an incident like the Almeda Fire it is very difficult to ensure that everyone is safely off the greenway,” says Eric Mitton, Medford’s Deputy City Attorney.

If it passes, someone sleeping along a greenway could face a fine of $1,000 or face up to a year in jail.

The city council is hosting a study session tomorrow to discuss the proposal.

A vote is not yet scheduled.

Jenna King February 10, 2021

Jenna King

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Jenna King is the 6pm and 11pm anchor for NBC5 News. Jenna is a Burbank, CA native. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Sports Business. During her time at Oregon she was part of the student-run television station, Duck TV. She also grew her passion for sports through her internship with the PAC 12 Network. When Jenna is not in the newsroom you can find her rooting for her hometown Dodgers, exploring the outdoors or binging on the latest Netflix release.