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new bridges, a bicycle path, play areas, and other places to recreate. He thought so many things around the ponds were dangerous and unpleasant. He reiterated that it should be improved. Jenny Sink , 393 Limerick Avenue, said she was the proud teacher of the students who had spoken about Golden Gardens Park. She recalled that the school year had begun with plans for a memorial. She applauded the class for dreaming big and related that they had been doing so from the day they visited the ponds. She stated that a penny drive collected $2,500. She felt the kids’ passion was helping to make a difference as well as speaking for six young people who could no longer speak for themselves. She said the grieving was over and change was underway. The young people had become proactive, they heard from numerous supporters of the park improvements, and now needed to hear from the council. She thanked the Parks and Open Space Division for the work that had been done so far and to the council for listening. Ruth Anne Paul , 1475 Green Acres Road, Space 160, stated that nothing had been done by the City to develop Golden Gardens Park. She said the part of the 1998 bond measure that had been allocated to the Bethel area had been used for a number of things and she listed them. She reiterated the importance of making Golden Gardens Park safe. She averred that an additional ten acres were needed to help slope the edges of the pits so they would have the nature of true ponds. She felt an additional 100 acres was needed to make the park user-friendly to more people. She called it imperative to include the development of this pond in the upcoming bond measure. She reminded the councilors that the park had been locally known as “the Pits” because it had never been developed or maintained as a park. Diane Shock , 5509 Barger Drive, reported that the Active Bethel Citizens group was working hard to develop Golden Gardens Park. They were appreciative of the council support shown for the park thus far. She said it remained critical that the project be considered a Priority 1. She recommended that additional acreage around the ponds area be purchased because the population in the area had increased significantly and the current area of the park was not adequate. She said another compelling reason to purchase the land was that the property was close to the airport and under the path of the new runway. She thought it would be prudent to purchase the land to maintain it as a buffer between the airport and residential areas. She urged the council to consider purchasing the land for ball fields and additional recreational facilities for all of Eugene. Gary Davis , 1635 Daugherty Street, Cottage Grove, asked the council to include funding for Golden Gardens Park on the bond issue in November. He said the park in its present state was 90 percent water. He agreed that additional lands were warranted, given the population growth in that area. He thanked the councilors for the work that had been done to make the park safer. He explained that he was the grandfather of two boys whose lives had been taken by the park. Carrol Dower , 1000 Welcome Way, thanked everyone and acknowledged that the Friends of Golden Garden Park were well-received by the council and the community. She reported that the group received good news coverage and donations from many local businesses and individuals. She reiterated the request that funds for the park be included in the bond measure and that the park be made a Priority 1. She underscored that the community was ready to put a great deal of sweat equity into the project, and it had a commitment from Home Depot for some supplies, the penny drive proceeds, and other fundraising money to contribute. She said she was just a mom who never wanted to see another grieving parent go through the agony of losing their spirited 15-year-old to an accidental drowning on a hot summer. Mary Monette , 3261 Richard Avenue, stated that Golden Gardens Park would be a great park for Eugene. She stressed that Bethel was a large voting bloc in the community. She said with the publicity the group MINUTES—Eugene City Council May 8, 2006 Page 6 Regular Meeting