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<br /> <br />City of Eugene <br />125 East 8 Avenue, 2 Floor <br />thnd <br />Eugene, Oregon 97401 <br />(541) 682-5010 <br />(541) 682-5414 (FAX) <br /> <br />www.eugene-or.gov <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER <br />September 26, 2013 <br /> <br />IN THIS EDITION <br /> <br />CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO PLAY OUTSIDE GUARANTEED <br />SECOND MEETING SCHEDULED ON 30 AVENUE CROSSING SAFETY <br />TH <br />ODOT TO BUILD A WIDER, SAFER SIDEWALK/SHARED-USE PATH ON FRANKLIN BOULEVARD <br /> <br />AROUND THE CITY <br />Children’s Right to Play Outside Guaranteed <br />Friday, Sept. 27, is Oregon Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights Day. “OCOBOR” is combatting a disturbing trend in Oregon and <br />the United States: today’s youth are spending less time outdoors and are less connected to the natural world. Children who <br />are indoors all the time are more likely to engage only in sedentary activities and be <br />less fit. That can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other direct negative <br />consequences to their health. <br /> <br />The Recreation Division has long recognized what research has now confirmed: just <br />being outside has a remarkable rejuvenating and calming effect that can reduce <br />hyperactivity in children. In response to the recent trend away from outside play, <br />Recreation developed the Full Moon Rising Program that uses outdoor activities to <br />teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum in local schools <br />and then, depending on the season, takes the children tree climbing, rock climbing, <br />boating, or sledding. <br /> <br />It was at the urging of the Recreation Division that the Oregon Recreation & Park <br />Association launched the OCOBOR initiative. It guarantees the right of every Oregon child to follow a trail, go boating, camp <br />out under the stars, learn to swim, walk barefoot on the beach, climb a tree, observe animals in their habitat, catch a fish, <br />play in a nearby park, and explore Oregon’s culture and history. <br /> <br />For more information, contact Recreation Division Manager Craig Smith at 541-682-5334. <br /> <br />Second Meeting Scheduled on 30 Avenue Crossing Safety <br />th <br />A meeting to continue discussing safety concerns about pedestrians crossing 30 Avenue east of Hilyard Street has been <br />th <br />scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 3, beginning at 6 p.m., in the cafeteria of Camas Ridge Elementary School, 1150 East 29 <br />th <br />Avenue. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss community input, describe evaluation studies, and present the City’s <br />recommended improvement option. <br /> <br />Many pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and neighborhood residents have expressed a desire for a safer street crossing <br />that is easy to use. Many of the concerns have been submitted on behalf of students who attend Camas Ridge Elementary <br />School. While there is a pedestrian bridge across from the school near University Street, it has steep stairwells and doesn’t <br />work for people with mobility challenges or families with strollers, large bicycles or tag-along trailers. Another group of <br />concerned users are transit riders who board at 30 Avenue and University, which is five blocks from the only marked <br />th <br />crosswalk on 30 Avenue east of Hilyard. <br />th <br /> <br />An initial meeting was held on May 23 to identify safety challenges and begin the discussion of potential options. Staff is <br />still developing a recommended improvement option for the Oct. 3 meeting. More information, including notes from the <br />May 23 meeting and the results of speed studies and traffic counts, is available at www.eugene-or.gov/30thcrossing, or by <br />contacting Reed Dunbar, transportation planner, at 541-682-5727. <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 <br />September 26, 2013 <br />