COTTAGE GROVE — Outdoor enthusiasts revere the Row River Trail, as do fans of the coming-of-age cult classic Stand By Me.
It is a renowned stretch that bridges idyllic scenery and a storied past. Don Strahan, a longtime volunteer and avid cyclist, also takes pride in it. While Strahan shared that seasonal depression prompted a needed move from Oregon to Arizona, the impact of his public service remains evergreen.
At a city council meeting in December, Faye Stewart, Public Works Director, reflected on Strahan’s dedication to community betterment. On his commute home, Stewart shared that Strahan often cleared debris, cut brush and tree limbs, and marked hazardous areas along the Row River Trail. But one particular instance stuck out in his memory.
“I was driving home and saw him with a regular push broom sweeping the trail. And I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, how many volunteers would actually sweep a trail like this?’” Stewart said. “It really spoke to me about his commitment to doing everything he could and making sure that that trail was in the best shape it could be in.”
Strahan moved to Cottage Grove in July 1986, serving as Cottage Grove Center of Lane Community College’s director until retirement in 2007.
After experiencing a painful accident in 2010 and the death of Michele Portmann in 2011, a longtime counselor at Cottage Grove High School who was struck by a vehicle while riding her bicycle, Strahan committed himself to ensure the safety of cyclists on the Row River Trail.
“I, among others, provided input to Lane County regarding safety issues associated with the intersection where Michele was hit,” Strahan said in a statement. “Subsequently, Lane County built an underpass at that location to help avoid any further accidents involving RRT users.”
Strahan worked as a volunteer for both the Bureau of Land Management and the City of Cottage Grove, logging “250-350 hours a year,” identifying problem areas on the Row River Trail and ensuring that it stayed clear.
Through his efforts on the Row River Trail, he was invited to join the Covered Bridge Scenic Bikeway Committee in 2013. Sponsored by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the organization publicizes designated routes for cyclists to explore.
Over eight months, Strahan traversed the 37-mile Covered Bridge Scenic Bikeway route on many occasions, pinpointing potential signage locations and the exact mileage for each.
In addition, Strahan took to the Ride with GPS website, crafting 37 bicycle routes complete with personal photographs of the locations. He also created six videos showcasing ride pathways in the area, available on the City’s website.
While Strahan’s efforts remained diligent, things for the Cottage Grove cycling community took a dark turn at the end of 2017 when Wesley Meadows, a student at Lincoln Middle School, died after being hit by a vehicle while riding his bicycle on Highway 99. He was 13 years old.
In response to the tragedy, Strahan partnered with Doug Lyda, South Lane Fire & Rescue Captain, to provide bicycle lights for youths in the area. The pair raised $9,000 and, in the spring of 2018, distributed lights to approximately 90 Lincoln Middle School students.
The momentum didn’t stop there.
With Chris Compton of Cottage Grove’s Rainy Peak Bicycles and potential helmets in tow, Strahan researched Lincoln Middle School students’ style and size preferences. Once the design was solidified, Strahan used Rotary funds to purchase the helmets over three years.
“Few people put more hours into volunteering to make the cycling community and Cottage Grove a better place than Don,” Compton said. “We will miss him and his ceaseless efforts to make Cottage Grove a more bike-friendly place.”
While keeping cyclists safe was a significant component of Strahan’s work, he also volunteered for Beds for Freezing Nights, an organization committed to providing safe shelter in the wake of frigid temperatures. He was an active Rotary member and cleared approximately “820 incidents of graffiti,” to name a few.
As he settles into life in Arizona, Strahan is eager for his next adventure but sad to part ways with those he’s come to know.
“I’m going to miss the area; I’m going to miss the scenery. I’m going to miss the volunteer activities I was involved with. But probably most importantly, I’m going to miss the people I’ve established relationships with over the years here,” Strahan said.
A self-proclaimed “snowbird,” Strahan fully intends to take trips to Cottage Grove when visiting his daughter in Portland during the summer months and looks forward to doing so.
“After 38 years, Cottage Grove will always be home to me,” Strahan said in a statement. “While I am looking forward to a new phase in my life, I am leaving Cottage Grove with mixed emotions.”
