Item C: Ridgeline Acquisition Proposal from Arlie and Company

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West Eugene Wetland Education $1,750,000 On hold pending private fund $0 Center raising to match City contribution. 1 Typically, per acre costs for acquiring land for neighborhood and community parks in developed residential areas is several times higher than those for acquiring natural areas outside the city and/or UGB. Future Park Uses The land acquired from Arlie and Company in 2008 is part of the Ridgeline Park system, whose primary function is to provide passive recreational uses such as hiking, wildlife watching, and, in some areas, mountain bike riding. The Master Plan for the 2008 acquisition area was completed in June 2010, and calls for most of the area to be dedicated to passive recreation, with a system of trails. A portion of the area is designated as a site for a potential future, naturalistic disc golf course. The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Comprehensive Plan (PROS Plan) was adopted by City Council in 2006. Although the PROS Plan is not in effect as adopted land use policy due to a state remand, it provides a framework for distinguishing the different types of parks and their intended purposes and uses. Community Parks are intended to draw users from a two-mile radius, and to include facilities such as: Neighborhood park components, including children’s play areas, and basketball courts Reservable picnic areas Performance and gathering spaces Restrooms Soccer and softball/baseball fields Paved pathways and trails Natural areas Off-street parking, transit access and bike parking. A second park type of a similar, regional nature described in the PROS Plan is the Metropolitan Park, which is intended to “preserve unique cultural and natural areas or to provide features, facilities and events that attract users from the entire Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area.” Given the location of the proposed acquisition area, its relationship to existing Ridgeline Park land, the landforms and habitat types that exist on the site (wetlands, prairie, oak savanna, mixed forest, riparian corridors, as well as disturbed areas), the site’s location outside the Urban Growth Boundary, and the character of surrounding properties, this site appears very suitable for a Metropolitan Park, whose purpose would be to protect a unique community resource, while also providing a unique opportunity to serve currently unmet needs for active trail uses including mountain bike trails, mountain biking skills facilities, as well as disc golf and a variety of passive recreational uses. Mountain bike trail riding and disc golf are two recreational needs that are growing rapidly in the community and are significantly underserved by the current parks and open space system. This site provides unique opportunities to significantly enhance provision of services to these local recreational communities, while minimizing conflicts with or impacts to other, existing park uses and activities. Given the types of uses that would be most compatible with this site, and with the uses designated for the existing City-owned land, this site would most likely be considered a Metropolitan Park. Cost of Ongoing Maintenance Ongoing maintenance costs for this site would vary, depending upon how the site is developed. Annual maintenance costs would be lower while the site is land-banked site for future development; however, costs would rise after new features and amenities are developed. At a City Council work session on Z:\CMO\2010 Council Agendas\M101108\S101108C.doc