Lights! Camera! Attraction! City leaders, film industry officials and local residents gathered in Eco Park Friday to unveil the community’s newest draw: a plaque noting the area’s inclusion on the Oregon Film Trail by virtue of an extended appearance on the hit NBC fantasy show Grimm in 2014.
The city hosted a public ceremony to unveil the new marker and commemorate the addition of Eco Park to the Oregon Film Trail, a partnership with the Oregon Made Creative Foundation and other community groups to strengthen connections between the film and TV industries, economic development, tourism and local interests.
Canby Economic Development Director Jamie Stickel began the event by welcoming attendees and introducing speakers. Canby is the second city in Clackamas County to be added to the Oregon Film Trail — joining neighboring Oregon City, which was featured in the Twilight series among other films and TV projects.
Jane Ridley, marketing communications specialist for Oregon Film, thanked Canby for its participation and noted that park is the 36th location on the Oregon Film Trail — with plans to expand that number to 40 locations throughout Oregon by the end of 2021.
She thanked the crowd by saying, “I am so excited for Canby and all of the enthusiasm around this event,” and also spoke to the growth of film tourism and the positive effects it has on communities throughout Oregon.
“Thank you all for coming and sharing this moment with us,” said City Councilor Sarah Spoon, who spearheaded the Film Trail project with city staff.
While Spoon explained there are many reasons to love Canby, “for me, I am so happy to have this here,” she said. “It honors the beauty and unique feel of this space.”
Spoon also spoke about film tourism, concluding with her hope that the Eco Park plaque does help bring more people to Canby.
