05/03/12 - City Council Newsletter

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International Family Fun at Eugene Public Library In May, kids and their families are invited to “travel” the world through fun events at the Downtown Eugene Public Library. Each Sunday at 3 p.m., a guest presenter from a different country will lead creative activities through a partnership with the University of Oregon’s International Cultural Services Program. Admission is free. On Sunday, May 6, Bolormaa Enkhbat will share “Mongolian Folktales and Legends.” These ancient stories from the heart of Asia include a legend explaining why dogs, cats, and mice don’t get along. On Sunday, May 13, enjoy “A Day in the South African Sun” with Lindy Mabuya’s traditional tales of South Africa and make a pair of binoculars for a safari adventure. Learn “Colombia’s Green Inchworm Dance” and make a colorful clay inchworm with Carmen Del Rosario on Sunday, May 20. And, on Sunday, May 27, join Ernestine Kwin to act out the traditional story of “The Broken Spoon of Cameroon.” For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-8316 or www.eugene-or.gov/library. Park Path Renovation Projects Begin Concrete crews formed and poured more than 6,000 square feet of replacement concrete paths in Alton Baker and Tandy Turn parks this week. These two sites along with three others have been identified as needing critical concrete repairs as the surfaces have deteriorated, cracked or been heaved by tree roots over time. These conditions often create tripping hazards or make the paths inaccessible under Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, requiring removal and replacement of the walks. The new walks at Alton Baker Park were raised two inches in elevation to accommodate surface tree roots from a line of ash trees that shade the parking lot. Tree roots were also planed and pruned to ensure improved tree health and path longevity over the long term. Amazon Park, Tugman Park and University Park have also been identified for concrete path repairs which are being scheduled for the fall of 2012, to avoid conflicts with summer park uses and activities. Total budget for this year’s concrete path renovations is $160,000. The projects are funded by park operations capital funds for repairs. For more information, contact Emily Proudfoot, landscape architect in Parks and Open Space Planning, at emily.a.proudfoot@ci.eugene.or.us or 541-682-4915. Owen Rose Garden Rejuvenation Efforts Under Way Construction work began this week at the Owen Rose Garden to complete several projects that will improve safety, reduce long-term maintenance requirements, and ensure the health and beauty of the Rose Garden into the future. Concrete walks will be poured around the existing gazebo to replace gravel walks and provide better accessibility around the facility, and reduce weeding efforts. The lawn and landscaped bed area to the west of the green rose arbor will also get a facelift in the form of a new lawn that will better accommodate receptions and other events that take place at the garden during the year. The remainder of this spring’s project includes construction of key gravel pathways, repair of existing irrigation systems, and repair of a critical maintenance area access gate. This phase of the overall rejuvenation effort will be completed by the middle of May. This work follows on the heels of a significant operational effort to improve the overall health and maintainability of the garden by removing diseased and dead roses, reducing the quantity and area of perennial beds, and removing the overgrown arborvitae hedges near the parking lot. Work will continue into the summer with significant volunteer work days providing some key inputs into the garden such as shed roof repair and landscaped bed edging. For more information, please contact Emily Proudfoot, landscape architect in Parks and Open Space Planning at emily.a.proudfoot@ci.eugene.or.us or 541-682-4915. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 May 3, 2012