02/10/11 - City Council Newsletter

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and Jefferson Westside Neighbors) to strengthen connections between Latino-owned businesses and the surrounding community. The Santa Clara and River Road community organizations submitted a joint proposal to conduct education and outreach activities focused on urban transition issues such as land use, transportation, parks and governance. Upon completion of these two SNAPs, staff will be working with Active Bethel Citizens to plan for urban agricultural options that enhance food access and security in the neighborhood and with Harlow Neighbors to diversify and expand participation in the work of the association. For more information, contact SNAP leads Rene Kane at rene.c.kane@ci.eugene.or.us or 541-682-6243, or Lorna Flormoe at 541-682-5670. New Park Trails Connecting Neighbors in East Eugene A series of recent projects, strengthened by community partnerships, have created new trails in southeast Eugene, resulting in improved commuting options and connections between neighborhoods. The Northwest Youth Corps Outdoor School, supported by members of Friends of Hendricks Park and the Fairmont and Laurel Hill neighborhood associations, and volunteers from Oregon Woods Inc., received a City of Eugene neighborhood matching grant to realign a heavily eroded segment of the Floral Hill Trail in Hendricks Park. The improved trail joins Hendricks Park and the newly constructed .75-mile Ribbon Trail to Floral Hill Drive and creates a pedestrian connection between the Fairmount and Laurel Hill Valley neighborhoods. In addition, Eugene Water & Electric Board’s (EWEB) need to place a water main line down a th narrow City-owned parcel between 30 Avenue and Spring Boulevard resulted in an opportunity to improve a crucial commuter link. The City Parks and th Disciples of Dirt help build 30 Avenue trail connector Open Space Division partnered with EWEB staff and members of the Disciples of Dirt and the Obsidians to build a trail over the location of the filled-in water main’s trench. EWEB staff built the bulk of the trail as a component of its project. The two volunteer groups worked with City Volunteer-In-Parks staff to build a connecting trail segment near thth 30 Avenue, while a second grant-funded youth crew worked to build a trail segment down a steep hillside near 29 th Avenue. A trail segment connecting the dead ends of Central Boulevard near Laurelwood Golf Course and 29 Avenue completed the connection work. thth The new trails allow pedestrian and bicycle access between 29 and 30 avenues and Central Boulevard. Bicycle thth commuters and pedestrians are able to get off busy 30 Avenue to travel between neighborhoods south of 30, Lane Community College and other destinations. One regular hiker interviewed recently summed up the experience, “I’m becoming addicted to the trails; it’s so nice to be able to experience a little bit of nature a few minutes from home!” For more information, please contact Natural Resources Maintenance Specialist Jesse Cary-Hobbs at 541-682-4843. West Bank Trail Extension Project Progressing A $1.6 million project is under way to extend the West Bank Trail from River Avenue, under the Randy Pape’ Beltline, along Division Avenue to Beaver Street. Work currently is focused on the section along Division Avenue, which will include a path undercrossing at the main entrance to the Delta Sand & Gravel yard. Later this summer, the work will move to the path alignment along the river bank. The project is scheduled to be completed in November 2011. Knife River Corporation is the general contractor. Construction costs are approximately $1.58 million, with funding coming from a federal transportation enhancement grant administered by the Oregon Department of Transportation. The project extends the existing West Bank trail to connect the River Road and Santa Clara neighborhoods. Currently, bicyclists and EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 February 10, 2011