Help Keep Miller Woods Open and Thriving
Miller Woods Conservation Area is a treasured 130-acre landscape dedicated to wildlife habitat, environmental stewardship, and outdoor education. Thanks to community support and a legacy of conservation, Miller Woods remains a welcoming place for people to connect with nature.
Today, support for Miller Woods is more important than ever as significant changes in funding are reducing the resources that have long helped keep the property open and maintained.
Your support helps ensure that Miller Woods stays open, accessible, and well cared for — today and for future generations.
Visitor Day Pass Donations & Parking
To help support ongoing maintenance costs, the suggested donation for day-use parking at Miller Woods will increase from $5 to $7.
We recognize that this increase may create a financial burden for some visitors. Because we believe the outdoors are for everyone, this will remain a suggested donation, and no one will be turned away if they are unable to contribute.
Hummingbird — $50
Chickadee — $100
Bluebird — $250
Woodpecker — $500
Owl — $1,000
Steward / Partner — $5,000+
A little background on Miller Woods, and upcoming changes.
Stewardship & Maintenance
Miller Woods is maintained through the combined efforts of District staff and a dedicated team of volunteers. While volunteer support is essential, maintaining a property of this size and complexity requires ongoing funding.
The annual cost to keep Miller Woods open and maintained ranges from $50,000 to $70,000 per year. Approximately $30,000 of this supports staff time to oversee the property, coordinate maintenance efforts, and support volunteers. The remaining funds cover essential materials and services, including:
- Trails
- Bridges
- Buildings
- Vehicles
- Equipment
- Contractors
This work ensures that Miller Woods remains safe, functional, and healthy for both visitors and wildlife.
How Miller Woods Is Funded
Funding for Miller Woods comes from a combination of community support and earned revenue. Each year, generous visitors and supporters contribute $5,000 to $15,000 in donations. In addition, $5,000 to $10,000 is generated annually through Native Plant Sale profits, which directly support Miller Woods.
We sincerely thank everyone who has contributed — your generosity makes a real and lasting impact.
A Major Funding Change
Until recently, the most significant funding source for Miller Woods came from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) grow-outs program. For more than 10 years, we grew between 40,000 and 65,000 native plants annually for USFWS restoration projects throughout the Willamette Valley. This work generated $30,000 to $40,000 in income each year, providing critical support for keeping Miller Woods open and maintained.
Unfortunately, USFWS requests have steadily declined over the past few years. For 2026, only 11,000 plants have been requested. This dramatic reduction means that our most significant funding source is rapidly disappearing.
What We’re Doing to Adapt
In response to this change, we are actively working to secure new and sustainable funding sources. Our efforts include reducing costs where possible, applying for grants, finding new buyers for our native plants, and pursuing corporate sponsorship opportunities.
At the same time, we are revamping our Miller Woods donation and sponsorship programs to help bridge the funding gap and ensure long-term stewardship of the property.
Our Story
In 2004, Frieda and K.T. Miller generously donated their 130-acre property to the Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District. Their vision was for the land to be permanently conserved for wildlife habitat while also providing a unique and meaningful location for outdoor education.
From that gift, the Miller Woods Conservation Area was born. Today, it stands as a living example of conservation in action, offering a space for learning, restoration, and quiet enjoyment of the natural world.
We continue to honor the Millers for their generous gift to our nature-loving community and their vision for this beautiful, rich land.
