Item 9: Resolution Approving PROS Project and Priority Plan

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If only they were made aware, they would be alive today. But they were never given that chance. They drown that Sunday. I cannot sit back and let another family suffer this immeasurable pain. This is not a part of life we all must learn to live with. These problems must be immediately resolved. Each day innocent lives are put in danger. In the summer of 94' John Emory drown at the age of 17 in the North East Pond at the Pitts. The other kids gave all they had to try and save him but too much valuable time passed before rescuers could reach John. The key needed to gain access into the park, and to John, was nowhere to be found. In the end, Eugene Police shot the lock off the gate to reach him, shortly thereafter John was pronounced dead at the hospital. The park remained untouched for the next 6 years. Rapidly declining. The only clear difference was the crucial access bridge at the end of Golden Garden Avenue was destroyed and a guardrail took its place. That was the summer Ryan Lambert and his brother, along with other neighbor kids, headed down to the ponds to catch frogs. It was only when his brother began to struggle that Ryan jumped in to help. The neighbors across the canal heard the screams for 911, but once more it was too late. Ryan drown in the North East Pond just two weeks before his 13th birthday. Why is it that 12 years have past and nothing has been done at Golden Gardens Park? Why is it that 4 lives are ripped from us, that nothing has been done at Golden Gardens Park? Our city needs to focus on the deceiving conditions at Golden Garden, ftnance the repairs and upgrades needed, and sustain a safe place for all our citizens, especially when its called a "park". Over the years, issues have surfaced about the safety concerns and required improvements needed at Golden Gardens Park. In 1995, after John drown, Mr. Pat Farr spoke before the council and pointed out the "contradiction in getting to an unsafe park safely, e.g., Golden Garden Park". In April 2004 the Community Design Forum decided to "improve paths around ponds for all accessibility levels" and to "initiate water quality monitoring to ensure swimming and ftshing is safe at Golden Garden". Those minimal improvements would've prevented the deaths of Nick & Britt. This seems to be merely an illustration of neglect from our City. The City of Eugene and the Parks Department have been informed for some time of what needs to be done. They are completely aware of the hazards that occupy the Pitts. \Vhich is a lot more than we can say for most of our community and the new residents to the Bethel area. How is posting signs stating "NO SWIMMING" or "FISHING ONLY" is an added liability? If City Lawyers advise against such signage, what do they say about the two crosses standing there now? When actually at least four belong. /~ ~ 1-::)