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do <br />Mr. Richard Haag and judge Michael Hogan <br />February 21, 2005 <br />Page Two <br />On the south side of the courthouse the City of Eugene has been working on a street <br />tree plan that will complement and enhance the courthouse's exterior. We have noticed, <br />too, an extraordinary opportunity for additional tree planting that seems ideal for the devel- <br />opment of glorious, large trees befitting the broad public plaza in front of the courthouse. <br />Along the north side of Eighth Avenue there will be several "plinths," as we have heard <br />them called. These are the sloped squares, about twenty feet to a side, framed by low walls <br />on the south edge. Specifications call for these to be planted with turf grass. Imagine how <br />distinguished and effective it would be if these plinths were planted with trees--a plinth is <br />traditionally, after all, a base for a statue or column. We again think of valley pine, the <br />adaptable and majestic local variety of ponderosa pine that dots our town and would be a <br />great addition to the downtown riverfront. In front of the historic Calkins House at the <br />comer of East 11 th Avenue and Patterson Street — erstwhile home to lawyer, former State <br />Representative and Senator Windsor Calkins -- stands a great valley pine that hints of what <br />could become of a group of such trees. <br />While we are not privy to the reasons for specific design choices, and understand that <br />there may be constraints or motivations that explain the landscape plan about which we <br />cannot guess, ETF believes that our local knowledge and experience yield recommendations <br />that have merit. We suppose the success of this project means a great deal to you, and <br />rightly so. Major public developments in Eugene mean a great deal to us as well, and we <br />hope you receive our comments in the good - humored and constructive spirit with which <br />they are submitted. <br />Sincerely, <br />" (��X <br />Phillip Carroll <br />President (on behalf of the Board of Directors) <br />pc: Mayor Kitty Piercy and City Councilors <br />Mark Snyder, Urban Forester (City of Eugene) <br />