Item A: Downtown Open Space Update

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Downtown Open Space Update Meeting Date: October 25, 2006 Agenda Item Number: A Departments: Planning and Development/Public Works Staff Contact: Nan Laurence www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5340 ISSUE STATEMENT Last April, City Council directed staff to explore opportunities for additional green space downtown, and report back to council within four months. This agenda item addresses the council request. BACKGROUND On April 19, 2006, Community Development Division staff reported to City Council on the progress made towards implementing the Downtown Plan, including strengthening economic vitality and reinforcing the special character of downtown. At that time, City Council directed staff to continue these implementation efforts. The council also directed staff as follows: "Undertake a broad, high-level planning exercise to consider potential locations for downtown green space. This exercise should also examine (at a very rough level) potential costs and timelines. The results of this exercise should be brought back to the City Council within four months for further deliberation and direction." City staff members from a number of divisions have been working collaboratively on several closely related projects impacting green and open space downtown. These projects include City Hall Master Planning, Park Blocks Master Plan, improvements to the Farmer’s Market, and working with public and private redevelopment opportunities. The discussion of green space opportunities has been coordinated with these efforts as part of the ongoing implementation of the Downtown Plan. To determine the opportunities for additional green space, staff from Public Works and the Community Development Division divided the project into three components. First, staff completed an inventory of existing open spaces downtown, including public and private plazas and green spaces. Second, based on the inventory, staff brainstormed about the type of and possible locations for additional green space opportunities. Third, staff evaluated these opportunities in the context of Great Streets, the organizing concept for characterizing and connecting urban open spaces downtown. Each of the three components is described below, and will be presented in a Powerpoint format at the work session on October 25, 2006. 1. Inventory An inventory of existing open spaces downtown revealed a significant amount of open spaces and green spaces, large and small, public and private. The spaces include parks and plazas, grass and planted areas, and pedestrian paths. The spaces are located throughout downtown. The largest spaces are on the edges of downtown, specifically Skinner Butte Park, the riverfront to the north and east of downtown, and the Washington Jefferson Park to the west. L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M061025\S061025A.doc