In July, Oregon’s Court of Appeals ruled the City of Newport couldn’t use a legal shield known as recreational immunity to dismiss a lawsuit from a woman who sued the city after slipping and ...

A 2019 lawsuit that originated in Newport has called Oregon's recreational immunity law into question, causing cities up and down the coast to close trails for fear of liability.

In 2019, a woman filed a lawsuit against the city of Newport after she fell on a trail. Some coastal towns are now closing trails to avoid similar lawsuits.

Scott Winkels, a lobbyist with the League of Oregon Cities, says municipalities are trying to determine whether keeping trails open is worth the new risk created by precedent in a Newport case.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of theExplore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801.

Oregon lawmakers consider redefining ‘recreation’ to keep public trails open. Published 9:00 am Sunday, February 18, 2024 ...

The issue started in 2019 when a woman named Nicole Fields fell while crossing a bridge owned by the City of Newport. Fields sued, but the city claimed “recreational immunity” in its defense.

Newport's Ocean to Bay Trail is a roughly five-mile journey from Agate Beach State Recreation Site to Yaquina Bay, and is accessible and enjoyable for all ages. Skip Navigation Share on Facebook ...