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One of the benefits of the Barger site is that the site can be designed to jointly meet the need for both a <br /> school and community park. The Parks and Open Space Acquisition Study, recently reviewed by the <br /> City Council, recognized this area as the location of a future community park. By developing the site <br /> for joint use, rather than having the District and City acquire separate sites, the overall acreage needed <br /> is reduced by 20 to 30 acres. In addition, land in west Eugene is rapidly being acquired by developers <br /> in anticipation of urban services becoming available. Once those services are available, vacant land in <br /> this area is expected to disappear and the opportunity for reserving land for a community park may be <br /> lost or at least would come at a significantly higher price. <br /> Status Report <br /> Site Acquisition -- The appraisal for the property was completed earlier this month. Negotiations to <br /> acquire a total of approximately 70 acres will occur this fall. City participation in the acquisition of the <br /> joint school /park is proposed. The City's share of the acquisition is expected to be between $500,000 <br /> and $700,000. This money could be borrowed against future Parks Systems Development revenues. <br /> Significant parks SDC's are anticipated in the coming years based on the amount of residential <br /> development underway and planned for the near future throughout the City. <br /> Provision of services to the site -- A new sanitary sewer pump station and pressure line are needed to <br /> serve this area. These projects are included in the CIP and are non - assessable parts of the sanitary <br /> sewer system. That is, whether the school located in this area or not, this system would be constructed <br /> by the City and paid for by SDC's. This system is planned for construction in 1997 and 1998 and will <br /> provide the necessary infrastructure to serve the school as well as future residential development <br /> planned for this area. <br /> Improvement of Barger Drive and extension of a new north/south street will be needed to serve the <br /> new school /park site. Portions of both of these projects will be assessable. At the request of the <br /> School District, the County Commissioners identified $500,000 in the County CIP for road <br /> improvements related to the new Bethel school. <br /> Site Design -- City staff from parks planning, engineering, transportation and planning are coordinating <br /> with the School District and the District's architect to prepare site plans. Efforts are being made to <br /> design the site to maximize shared use of facilities such as playgrounds, athletic fields, gymnasiums, <br /> and parking. Since the design of the school and park site is at the fore front of development in this <br /> area, overall streets patterns will be designed to facilitate bus, pedestrian and bike access to the site. <br /> The site, adjacent streets, and internal circulation patterns are also being designed to provide for site <br /> visibility, separation between middle school and elementary school students, and overall safety and <br /> security of the site. <br /> If you would like additional information or have any questions please contact me at 687 -5508. <br /> Page 2 <br />