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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Fire took home from mom and her boys ... New bridge would connect east, west Nevada Street in Ashland ... Developer eyes Oregon Boy Scouts property on coast for golf course ... Fire took home from mom and her boys ... New bridge would connect east, west Nevada Street in Ashland ... Developer eyes Oregon Boy Scouts property on coast for golf course ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: The story of Jacksonville's 'well-kept secret' Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 31, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Oct. 31, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News I have been living in Jackson County for many years now and have only recently learned of the beautiful Forest Park in Jacksonville. Please tell us more about the Forest Park and why it is such a well-kept secret! — Cathy L., Medford Only because you said please, Cathy. We rarely get that luxury. According to Richard Shields, parks director and cemetery sexton, the park spans about 1,080 acres on a 1,800-acre spread that used to be the city of Jacksonville's old watershed. It was also a popular logging spot in the past. "We started looking at making that a park back in 2008," Shields says, adding that it had been a popular spot for mountain bikers and hikers before then. The park has more than 20 miles of trails, Shields adds. There is a four-man volunteer crew that helps him maintain the area. Shields says word about Forest Park has gotten out in the mountain biking community, but that the site's relative newness is one of the reasons it's such a, as you say, "well-kept secret." "It is fairly new, and it is still kind of under the radar," Shields says. "There hasn't been a lot of publicity on it." For those wanting to access the park, Shields says to travel through Jacksonville and head toward Ruch until you hit Reservoir Road — Google Maps has it labeled as Jackson Creek Road. Turn onto that, then drive about a mile up a granite road to the first parking lot. There are maps, kiosks and trails aplenty awaiting you. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected] . To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 31, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501