Item A: River Road/Santa Clara Transition Project

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Parks, Open Space and Natural Areas Current Situation Parks, Open Space and Natural Areas are addressed separately from Recreation Services for three reasons. The current forms of local delivery of these services suggests a logical division between recreation and parks (for instance the City of Eugene operates parks services out of the Public Works Department, and recreation services out of a Recreation, Library and Cultural Services Department). Secondly, open space preservation (and/or the gradual disappearance of open space even if such space is simply privately owned “fallow” land of no distinct conservation value) is a key “driver” in how residents of communities in transition react to growth. Finally, the proximity of both neighborhoods to the Willamette River corridor, and, in the case of Santa Clara, proximity to the Eugene/Springfield Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), provide unique opportunities for preserving open space elements that can help to sustain elements of a neighborhood’s rural heritage over time. As discussed in more detail under the Recreation section of this White Paper, the River Roads Parks and Recreation District provides recreation services and maintains one park (Emerald Park) in the River Road area, but does not otherwise manage open spaces or natural areas. There is no comparable special district serving Santa Clara. The City of Eugene operates its parks and open space services through a division of the Public Works Department. Lane County also provides parks services, and is the operator of two riverside boat landings on the Willamette River adjacent to the Santa Clara neighborhood. The City of Eugene has undertaken or is currently planning numerous parks upgrades and acquisitions in the River Road and Santa Clara neighborhoods, primarily utilizing development-generated system development charge (SDC) funds and the 1998 City parks and open space bond measure to fund these improvements. The City of Eugene is presently concluding the final public involvement phase for its Draft Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Comprehensive Plan, which includes a proposed community park in Santa Clara, a number of neighborhood park acquisitions, and a linear park and natural area along the Willamette River. The City of Eugene is also in the process of completing a natural features inventory, to comply with new rules required by Statewide Planning Goal 5, with particular emphasis on wetlands and stream corridors. A stream corridor acquisition program is funded through storm water user fees, with several priority acquisitions in the Santa Clara area. In addition, the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (provider of regional sanitary sewer services) has acquired a large amount of open space north of Santa Clara for poplar farms, biosolids management, and seasonal wastewater treatment. Given the uses contemplated for these Wastewater Commission sites, however, public usage as accessible open space may obviously be greatly limited, if not altogether proscribed. Finally, a proposal has under public review for a UGB “land swap” and development agreement involving properties both within Santa Clara and in another part of the City that would secure a new 77 acre site in the northwest portion of the Santa Clara community. Some residents of the Santa Clara community have proposed an alternative park and recreation development scenario including re-use of a closed Santa Clara elementary school, extension of the Willamette River Greenway trail, and additional neighborhood parks (including a community garden/agricultural “heritage” park). Currently this land swap proposal has been shelved. River Road The Willamette River Greenway immediately abuts the eastern edge of the River Road neighborhood from a wastewater treatment plant in the northeast corner of the community to the neighborhoods southernmost boundary. Except for one small privately owned lot, the City of Eugene’s 67 acres of river greenway is continuous and adjacent to the River Road neighborhood, and a west bank pedestrian and bikeway has been constructed for most of this length. Greenway improvements and facilities such as river 19 River Road/Santa Clara Transition/Heritage White Paper DRAFT 11-24-05 Service provider Review