Item 9: Resolution Approving PROS Project and Priority Plan

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_ 05/Q.3/06 _~D Q.8: 01 FAX 541 6873691 4J SUPERINT.OFFI ~002 r 46 School District 4J Eugeae Public Schools 200 North Monroe Street Eugen6, OR 97402-4295 -- April! 0, 2006 Dennis Taylor, City Manager City of Eugene 777 Pearl Street Eugene, OR 97401 Dear Dennis: The Eugene School District would like to enter this letter into public testimony for the hearing on the proposed Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Comprehensive Plan, scheduled on April 10, 2006. Weare excited that the City is considering additional parks, recreation and open space acquisitions and improvements. AU of these proVide immense public benefit and are of particular value for children. '-- As you know, due to decreasing enrollment, the District has recently sold four elementary school properties (Laurelhill, Whiteaker. Westmoreland. a.nd Willakenzie), and has identified two other for potential sale (Santa Clara and Bailey Hill). With this reduction in schools comes a. corresponding loss in outdoor recreational spaces for the community. At the same time, there is an increasing demand by youth sports organizations for playing and practice time. We are also experiencing increased interest in outdoor club activities (notably lacrosse). Loss of fields coupled with this increased community need exacerbates an already over-capacity load on the current fields. To help address this need, the District is plannine. to install synthetic fields at two middle schools--Madison and Cal Young.-where the old school buildings are being replaced by new schools. Due to the need for sufficient and safe v.ehicle access. there is a smaller area now available for playing fields. Installing syntheticmultipwpose fields within the new tracks at both schools will allow for more hours of use and help offset the loss of field space. City staff estimate that the current synthetic fields at the district's four high schools generate an approximate 6 times greater usage than comparable turf fields. These fields are used almost all day, every day, and all year long except in the most extreme rainy conditions. One hour after a heavy rain, the fields are not only playable, but are nearly in the same condition as on dry days. Although the District has funds to develop synthetic fields at Cal Young and Madison, we do not have resources to install the amenities of lights and bleachers that would allow for greater --...... '"