CC Newsletter - 02/03/05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The NeighborWoods program works with local businesses, school groups, community groups, and neighbors to build Eugene's urban forest and improve water quality by planting street trees. For more information about this or other upcoming tree planting projects, call Rick Olkowski, program coordinator in Parks and Open Space, at 682-4831. Recreation Services Summer Swim and Water Polo Leaque Recreation Services is offering an exciting new program this summer to introduce local youth to competitive aquatics. The aptly named "Summer Swim and Water Polo League" will give youngsters 8 to 14 years old an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of competitive swimming and water polo during a 10-week session, culminating in a championship meet/game and barbeque at Amazon Pool on August 27. The program is geared towards novice level swimmers, with no previous competitive swimming experience, and will expose them to structured workouts, coaching and fun. Workouts will occur twice a week at each pool, with a swim meet or water polo game every Friday, rotating between Amazon, Echo Hollow and Sheldon pools. In an attempt to serve all interested children, the league fee will be Iow-cost; discounts will also be given to youngsters who qualify for free/reduced school lunch. The Aquatics staff is seeking a corporate sponsor to help offset program costs. Local swim teams are partnering with Aquatics staff to assist in staff training. Representatives from Eugene City Swim Club, Emerald Aquatics, Precision Swimming and the high school teams are excited about the opportunity to increase community interest in competitive aquatics. This Iow-cost summer league is a part of Recreation Service's effort to improve physical activity and fitness for our City's youth. For more information, contact Sheldon Pool Aquatics Manager Doug Smith at 682-6336 or Echo Hollow Pool Aquatics Manager Rich Fay at 687-5331. Annual Leaf Collection Proqram Ends for the Year The City's annual leaf collection program, which began November 1, ended January 21, with the last round of collection in southwest Eugene. This Public Works program, which has been available to Eugene citizens since the late 1960s, offers residents a variety of options for dealing with fall leaf accumulations. This year, just over 15,000 cubic yards of leaves were collected, with approximately 30 percent (just over 5,000 cubic yards) coming from the north Eugene area. VVhile the program continues to offer traditional leaf pickup service, it also encourages residents to consider reusing and recycling their leaves. The leaves collected by the City are reused by delivering them upon request to residents and to the City's community gardens and community groups. Just over 4,000 cubic yards of leaves were delivered to community gardens, including almost Crew delivers leaves to a community garden. 1,900 cubic yards to the Grass Roots Garden on Coburg Road. This year, the leaf program was able to meet all 400 requests by private property owners for leaf delivery, totaling over 4,300 cubic yards (an average of 10 cubic yards per property). Commercial recyclers received just over 4,300 cubic yards. None of the leaves collected by the City are taken to public landfills. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 February 3, 2005