12/08/11 - City Council Newsletter

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To learn more about the poetry archive, and to listen to already-collected poems, visit oregonpoeticvoices.org. For more information about recording original poetry at the Eugene Public Library, please call 541-682-5450 or visit www.eugene-or.gov/library. Partnerships Key to Newest Acquisition in Ridgeline Park System This week, the Parks and Open Space Division acquired a 193-acre site called “South Eugene Meadows” for the Ridgeline Park system. With this addition, the Ridgeline Park system has grown to approximately 2,000 acres. The acquisition was possible because of partnerships with the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), and because the landowner made a significant donation to make the transaction possible. The funding package for the acquisition included a $750,000 grant from OWEB, an $886,000 grant from BPA, $713,000 in City bond measure funds, and a $790,000 donation from the landowner. South Eugene Meadows is located to the west of Spencer Butte Park and contains a beautiful mixture of oak woodland, oak savanna, and upland prairie habitats, which have been identified by multiple conservation organizations as priority habitats to conserve in the Willamette Valley. Furthermore, the site contains magnificent views of Spencer Butte. In the future, the Ridgeline Trail will be extended through the site, providing additional opportunities for the community to recreate and experience nature close to home. The site’s strategic location in the Ridgeline helps 193-acre South Eugene Meadows site offers magnificent views of fulfill the community’s vision, as identified in the Rivers to Spencer Butte. Ridges Vision and Action Plan, of a continuous habitat and recreational corridor from Fern Ridge Reservoir to Buford Park. The City’s grant applications were strongly supported by organizations in the Rivers to Ridges Partnership (of which the City is one of 14 partner organizations) and many community groups. In addition to the acquisition funds, the City was able to secure three years of “stabilization funding” from the BPA. This funding, which totals $188,175, will allow the Parks and Open Space Division to maintain the site for the next three years. In a time of limited City funding for maintaining parks and natural areas, this stabilization funding from BPA is particularly important. For more information, contact Natural Resources Manager Eric Wold at 541-682-4842 or eric.n.wold@ci.eugene.or.us. New Winter/Spring Recreation Guide Offers Hundreds of Things to Do The City of Eugene’s Winter/Spring Recreation Guide offers opportunities to stay healthy, entertained and informed from January through May. The 72-page virtual recreation guide is now available online at www.eugene-or.gov/recenroll. Those on the mailing list will receive paper copies next week. In addition, copies of the guide are available for pick-up at City community centers, pools, libraries and many other public locations. Registration is now underway for most activities. The cover of the new guide features an adult volleyball league. Every year, there are more than 100,000 participants in the five adult sport leagues offered by the City of Eugene Recreation Department, including volleyball, basketball, ultimate, softball, and soccer. In addition to league sports, the Winter/Spring Recreation Guide contains hundreds of events, classes, activities, social opportunities, and health and wellness programs for all ages and abilities. The City also offers a variety of spring break camps for children in kindergarten through age 14. Many activities are free and scholarships are available. For more information, call Kathy Madison at 541-682-6342. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 December 8, 2011