MEDFORD, Ore. (Mar. 17, 2026) — Four newly installed flags are now flying in Alba Park, marking Medford’s decades-long sister-city relationship with Alba, Italy, and highlighting cultural ties between the two communities.
The display features lighted poles in the city’s oldest park, with the American flag and Medford’s logo flag on one pole and the Italian flag alongside Alba’s flag on another. The flags are positioned behind the recently restored Palm Fountain, a landmark donated in 1934 by a prominent Medford family.
City officials said the installation is meant to honor a partnership that dates back more than six decades. Medford’s sister-city relationship with Alba was established in 1960 by then-Mayor John Snider, who sought to foster lasting international connections. At the time, the two cities shared similar population sizes, climates and strong agricultural economies.
The relationship has since expanded beyond symbolism to include cultural and educational exchanges. The Medford-Alba student exchange program, launched in 1985, has provided opportunities for more than 400 local students to travel and study abroad, strengthening ties between the communities.
The $25,000 downtown flag installation project was funded through the Council Community Initiative Fund, which is supported by local and state marijuana tax revenue.
City leaders say the new display serves as both a visual tribute to Medford’s international partnership and a reminder of the enduring connections built through decades of collaboration.
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