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Public Works <br />Maintenance <br />City of Eugene <br />1820 Roosevelt Boulevard <br />Eugene, Oregon 97402 <br />(541) 687 -5220 <br />October 11, 1996 <br />Pam Rodriguez <br />3161 Coraly Avenue <br />Eugene, Oregon 97402 <br />Dear Pam Rodriguez: <br />I am sending this letter to you, representing the Field of Dreams Neighborhood Group, clarifying <br />the City of Eugene's relationship to the new Lark Park in the Field of Dreams Subdivision. <br />Having been made aware only a couple weeks ago that the City is now responsible for the park <br />means that this is a good time to clarify for the neighbors what the City's maintenance <br />responsibilities are. <br />To summarize first, the City will maintain the play equipment, sidewalks, basketball court, <br />empty the trash receptacle, and water the trees by water truck during an establishment period. <br />The grass will be mowed, but on a frequency of every 4 or 5 weeks during the growing period. <br />An irrigation system to support year -round grass growth is not possible in the immediate future. <br />When NEDCO proposed development of what has now been named Lark Park over two years <br />ago the City was in a period of a maintenance reduction for its parks. Water for turf irrigation <br />was turned off in many parks to save both water and mowing costs. We explained to NEDCO <br />(and other developers with whom we were negotiating for acquiring parks in their subdivisions) <br />that the development that could occur in the immediate future would have to be limited to those <br />items not needing high levels of maintenance. Hard surfaces -- paths, play equipment, basketball <br />courts, tables and benches - -were what we could afford to maintain. Resources available for <br />mowing would require that the frequency be more like we do with undeveloped parks- - <br />occasional mowing during the periods that grass is growing. Such reduced maintenance capacity <br />also dictated that we not construct any flower or planting beds which require irrigation, weeding <br />and mulching. While the City's budget has been adjusted to allow restoration of irrigation in the <br />old parks, it has not been changed enough to allow taking on turf and irrigation in new parks. <br />As I mentioned several days ago by phone, the City would be open to and welcome any <br />assistance by neighbors with respect to more frequent mowing until our mowing capacity is <br />improved. Any attention given to the park, whether it be as a user patron, a volunteer maintainer, <br />or as a monitor of activity, will help minimize problems and improper use of the park. <br />