Admin Order 58-19-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2.1.1 National Recreational Trail Designation for Ridgeline Trail In June of 2006, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne officially designated Eugene's Ridgeline Trail system as a National Recreational Trail. This designation applies to the existing and future Ridgeline Trail network and includes all of the official trails within Spencer Butte Park. This recognition underscores the importance of the Ridgeline Trail system at a national level for the recreational amenity it offers to the nearby population and the regional trail connectivity it provides . The Ridgeline Trail joins a network of over 900 trails across the country, encompassing more than 10,000 miles, which have been given this designation. Each of the trails .inducted into the National Recreation Trails System receives a certificate of designation and trail markers along with preferential consideration when being ranked for receipt of federal Recreational Trails Program grant funds. The letter of designation is included in Appendix D. 2.2 Regional Trail Connectivity A key objective of this Plan is integration of Eugene's trail network into a much broader web of existing and proposed trails and paths in and around the Eugene-Springfield region. This regional network is described in various vision documents including the Rivers to Ridges Regional Parks and Open Space Vision (2003), the Ridgeline Area Open Space Vision (2008), and the Willamette River Open Space Vision (2010). Elements of the regional network are refined in various transportation and park plans that have been developed by nearby communities such as Springfield, Creswell, Veneta, and Coburg. Providing additional future connections between Eugene's trail system and other regional facilities and destinations will greatly increase recreational opportunities, provide access for bicycles and pedestrians, and offer opportunities for longer dist,ance recreational trips on land and water. Connections and Destinations to the North: • The City of Coburg has proposed a network of shared-use paths, referred to as the Coburg Loop, that will encircle the community and connect to Armitage Park and the City of Eugene to the south. The proposed path would cross the McKenzie River on the historical railroad bridge, which has already been retrofitted for that use. • The 1,100-acre Green Island property, owned by the McKenzie River Trust, is located to the north of the confluence of the Willamette and McKenzie Rivers. Although not currently open for regular public use, this natural area could potentially become a future destination for recreational uses. The existing Willamette River Water Trail currently passes through the Green Island property. Connections to the West: • Fern Ridge Reservoir and its associated natural areas are a key recreational destination to the west of Eugene. A future path or trail extension along Amazon Creek from the terminus of the Fern Ridge Path at Meadowlark Prairie could provide a recreational connection to walking trails and wildlife viewing areas located in Fern Ridge Wildlife Area. • A potential water trail along the Amazon Creek Diversion Channel could provide seasonal access to the marshlands of Fern Ridge Reservoir for paddlers originating in Eugene. • An existing paddling route along Coyote Creek currently provides access for paddlers entering the marshlands on the southeast side of Fern Ridge Reservoir (see Water Trails and Related Facilities Map). This trail could potentially tie into an Amazon Diversion Channel water trail through the marshlands on the east side of the reservoir. • The potential for future rails-to-trails or rails-and-trails connections from west Eugene to the west along the existing rail corridor was first identified in the 2003 Rivers to Ridges vision document. Although the railroad is currently active, there may be long-term opportunities for recreational trails or paths along this corridor, making connections to Veneta and possibly as far as Coos Bay. Eugene Trails Plan -2018 Page 13