Laserfiche WebLink
For more than two decades, Nearby Nature has thrived by providing a unique niche where outdoor adventure meets <br />science education. In Alton Baker Park, Nearby Nature organizes community litter pickup days in the park and coordinates <br />volunteer efforts to remove invasive species, such as English Ivy and invasive blackberry, so native plants can flourish. <br />Nearby Nature’s partner, Network Charter School, has spent many hours working to restore this beautiful park’s native <br />plants and teaching local youth an appreciation for the outdoors. <br /> <br />Join Nearby Nature at the next ivy pull in Alton Baker Park on Sunday, Feb. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, <br />contact Nearby Nature at 541-687-9699, info@nearbynature.org or www.nearbynature.org. For more information about <br />park adoptions and volunteer opportunities, contact Eugene Park Stewards North Region Volunteer Coordinator Katie <br />Blair-Terrazas at 541-682-4831 or katie.a.blair@ci.eugene.or.us. <br /> <br />International Livability Expert to Give Two Talks in Eugene on Thursday, February 20 <br />The City of Eugene is a co-sponsor of two upcoming public presentations by international livability expert Gil Penalosa, <br />executive director of 8-80 Cities and former commissioner of Parks, Sport and Recreation for the City of Bogota, Colombia. <br /> <br />Penalosa will be the keynote speaker for the Connecting Communities event on Thursday, <br />Feb. 20, from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Hilton Eugene Conference Center. Information on <br />registering is available at Lane Transit District’s website. Connecting Communities will also <br />include remarks by Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, Springfield Mayor Christine Lundberg and <br />Land Transit District (LTD) Board President Doris Towery, a panel of local experts, and <br />audience participation. <br /> <br />On the evening of Thursday Feb. 20, Penalosa will give a public presentation as part of <br />University of Oregon student group LiveMove’s speaker series. The event will take place at <br />the Lane Community College (LCC) Downtown Campus and will have a social hour from 5 <br />to 6 p.m., followed by Penalosa’s talk from 6 to 7 p.m. <br /> <br />Gil Penalosa is a champion of advocating quality of life for people of all ages, from eight to 80 (and beyond). As the <br />executive director of Toronto-based, non-profit 8-80 Cities, Penalosa bases his practice in a simple philosophy: Creating a <br />city that's good for an eight-year-old and good for an 80-year-old, creates a successful city for everyone. Penalosa is <br />passionate about cities for all people regardless of social, economic or ethnic background. He advises decision-makers and <br />communities on how to create vibrant cities and use parks and streets as great public places, as well as on sustainable <br />mobility. <br /> <br />Elements of an 8-80 City are simple: <br /> <br />8-80 Cities are communities built for people. They are made up of public spaces that create equal access for diverse <br /> <br />groups. <br /> <br />They nurture the need to be physically active by providing safe, accessible and enjoyable places for everyone to walk, <br /> <br />bike and be active as part of a daily routine. <br /> <br />They recognize that people are social creatures and prioritize human interaction by fostering vibrant streets and great <br /> <br />public places where people can rest, relax and play. <br /> <br />8-80 Cities encourage vibrant communities and healthy lifestyles for everyone regardless of age, gender, ability, <br /> <br />ethnicity or economic background. <br /> <br />As former commissioner of Parks, Sport and Recreation for the City of Bogota, Penalosa successfully led the design and <br />development of over 200 parks of which Simon Bolivar, a 360-hectare park in the heart of the city is the best known; here <br />he created the Summer Festival, with over 100 events in 10 days and more than three million people attending, making it <br />the main annual recreational and cultural event in the country and an economic engine for the city. Penalosa also led the <br />development of the first Ciclovia that has led to the blossoming of the Open Streets movement in the U.S., including Eugene <br />Sunday Streets. <br /> <br />For more information, please contact Transportation Planning Manager Rob Inerfeld at rob.inerfeld@ci.eugene.or.us or <br />541-682-5343. <br /> <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 <br />February 13, 2014 <br />