HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/03/12 - City Council Newsletter
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
May 3, 2012
City of Eugene
777 Pearl Street, Room 105
Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793
(541) 682-5010
(541) 682-5414 (FAX)
www.eugene-or.gov
IN THIS EDITION
ENVISION EUGENE RECOMMENDATIONS HITTING TOWN
TAKE MOM AND DAD TO THE CHALLENGE COURSE
INTERNATIONAL FAMILY FUN AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
PARK PATH RENOVATION PROJECTS BEGIN
OWEN ROSE GARDEN REJUVENATION EFFORTS UNDER WAY
AROUND THE CITY
Envision Eugene Recommendations Hitting Town
From local high schools to community centers and performance venues, the Envision Eugene community forums hit
town in March and April to bring people together to learn more about the recommendations. Approximately 160 people
attended the six forums to share their
thoughts about how the community
might grow over the next 20 years.
Forum reports are being assembled to
share the themes of the table
discussions with the public and decision
makers. Participants were encouraged
to also provide feedback via an online
survey which will be available until May
6 at www.EnvisionEugene.org. Based
on feedback from people who were not
able to attend the evening sessions, an
additional mini-forum was also held on
May 2 in the Atrium over the lunch hour.
Learn more about Envision Eugene on
its website at www.EnvisionEugene.org. For more information, contact Terri Harding at 541-682-5635 or
terri.l.harding@ci.eugene.or.us.
Take Mom and Dad to the Challenge Course
Recreation Service’s Outdoor Program invites families to have an adventure at the Spencer Butte Challenge Course from
10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Mother’s Day, May 13, or Father’s Day, June 17.
Climb up trees, walk across cables, and swing through the air. Build trust and
confidence in each other as strengths and limits are explored. And while
having fun, grow your brain, too. Participating in new activities is called
“experiential learning.” John Ratey, MD, and author of “SPARK: The
Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain,” says, “Emerging
research from neurologists about the brain and neurological connections
continue to reveal that physical activity provides an unparalleled stimulus,
creating an environment in which the brain is ready, willing, and able to
learn.” In this way, the Recreation Program builds both bodies and brains.
For more information, contact Robert Brack at 541-682-6324.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
May 3, 2012
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