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Dog Lovers and Rock Lovers Give of Their Time at Alton Baker Park
<br />Last Saturday, February 28, a group of 15 volunteers, active in the
<br />design and maintenance of the off-leash dog area in Alton Baker ~' ]~
<br />Park, prepared a site for another bench that will feature colorful tiles
<br />donated by patrons and supporters of the dog park. After the rigorous
<br />labor of digging, laying gravel and framing the site for the bench, the
<br />volunteers still had energy to remove all downed limbs, pick up all
<br />litter inside and around the perimeter of the park, and install three
<br />more movable picnic tables. The park is located off of Leo Harris
<br />Parkway, behind Autzen Stadium.
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<br />To the west, another group of 15 volunteers from the North American
<br />Rock Garden Society (NARGS) were preparing the Sebring Rock
<br />Garden located near the ponds for a west coast NARGS conference
<br />to be held in Eugene this weekend. Volunteers worked on Saturday
<br />and Sunday weeding and cleaning up the garden, top dressing the
<br />beds, replanting, and spreading gravel. NARGS volunteers helped
<br />establish and plant the garden in the late 1990s with a major grant
<br />from NARGS, donations of materials and plants from the local NARGS chapter, and assistance with site preparation,
<br />irrigation installation and signage from City parks crews. The group organizes work parties to maintain the garden on a
<br />quarterly basis, with monthly weeding during the growing season. Sebring Rock Garden was featured in Rock Garden
<br />Design and Construction, a NARGS publication published in 2003.
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<br />"These volunteer efforts are at the heart of the Volunteers in Parks program," says Troy Kreger, Volunteers in Parks
<br />coordinator. "Without volunteers, we could not maintain and improve our parks the way we would like." For more
<br />information, call Troy Kreger in Parks and Open Space at 682-4845.
<br />
<br />Local Youth Professionals Discuss Developmental Assets
<br />It all started with a simple question on a flier: "Want to create a healthier community for ouryouth?" For more than 70
<br />youth professionals from all over Lane County, the answer was a resounding "YES", so they eagerly assembled last
<br />Friday morning at Hilyard Community Center to learn more about the possibilities. Vivian Nelson-Jensen, nationally
<br />recognized champion of "40 Developmental Assets", explained how the assets framework can be incorporated into our
<br />lives, into agency policy, and into programs that encourage health and positive connections with youth. The attendees,
<br />most of whom had some familiarity with the assets framework, left energized and inspired to take these assets to the
<br />next level of understanding and implementation within our community.
<br />
<br />Because of her past work with the Search Institute, Vivian was able to share a personal history of Asset Development,
<br />the broad categories of which are Support, Empowerment, Boundaries and Expectations, Constructive Use of Time,
<br />Commitment to Learning, Positive Values, Social Competencies and Positive Identity. The Search Institute has
<br />surveyed over two million youth across the United States and Canada since 1989 to learn about their experiences,
<br />attitudes and behaviors, and the number of developmental assets at work for them. Studies reveal strong and consistent
<br />relationships between the number of assets present in young people's lives and the degree to which they develop in
<br />positive and healthful ways: the greater the numbers of assets, the lesser the degree of involvement in risky behaviors
<br />such as drug use, unsafe sex, and violence.
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<br />The "40 Developmental Assets" is a model that has been incorporated into Youth and Family Recreation Services.
<br />Program supervisors Raquel Wells and Molly Elliott have received specialized training in this area and are leading the
<br />way in emphasizing asset development in recreation services, and in promoting community-wide awareness and
<br />involvement. This free presentation, sponsored by Youth and Family Recreation Services, Lane County Human and
<br />Health Services and the Search Institute, is just the beginning. A follow-up meeting for all those interested is scheduled
<br />for Wednesday, March 31st, at 4:00 p.m., at Ridgeview Elementary School in Springfield, located at 526 66th Street. For
<br />more information, contact Raquel Wells at x6380 or see: http://www.search-institute.org//<http://www.search-
<br />institute.org//>
<br />Elections 2004 Update
<br />Since last week's update, several candidates have withdrawn and others have completed the filing
<br />process in anticipation of the filing deadline, now just a few hours away. Two new prospective
<br />candidates initiated and completed filing: Tom Slocum for City Council Ward 1 and Pat Lanning for
<br />EWEB Commissioner in Wards 2 and 3. Nancy Nathanson completed filing for Mayor and Adam Walsh
<br />completed filing for City Council Ward 1.
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<br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
<br />March 17, 2004
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