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<br /> - ANTHONY ROBERT LA PENNA /The Repieter -Guard
<br /> Three protesters, who would not identify themselves, sit Tuesday afternoon on the edge of Scobert Park.
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<br /> f enc es co er ar
<br /> • Green space: Angry months, to give the plants time to recover But city officials said they never
<br /> from abuse and to give neighbors a agreed to follow the task force sugges-
<br /> neighbors say the city has reprieve from vandals, alcoholics and tions, only to consider them. "We never
<br /> closed off areas they drug addicts who have plagued the park. made any promises that the fence would
<br /> But several members of a Scobert • be placed" in a specific spot, said Les
<br /> wanted left open. Park Task Force said Tuesday they had Lyle, acting assistant city manager.
<br /> no idea the city planned to also fence off Lyle said city parks officials made a
<br /> By JEFF WRIGHT most of the park's grassy area and its professional Judgment on where to put
<br /> The Register -Guard playground — leaving only a front strip the fencing to maximize grass and plant
<br /> of grass with two benches and no shade restoration. They decided to restrict the
<br /> Is a park really open when roughly trees. playground area, he said, because of its
<br /> two - thirds of it is closed? Worse, members said the city ignored poor condition
<br /> Some west Eugene neighbors and ac- their suggestions on where the fencing • Acting City Linda Norris
<br /> Manager Lin
<br /> tivists had that question on their lips should be placed after hiring trained me- said the city City also feeling Lin heat from
<br /> Tuesday when they awoke to find most of diators to help neighbors hammer out an a
<br /> citizens who want the park closed.
<br /> Scobert Park fenced off from the public. agreement among themselves. "The problem w nt with park
<br /> group that's
<br /> The fencing itself wasn't a surprise — "People feel they were lied to," said
<br /> neighbors and city officials had a been meeting is it doesn't include all the
<br /> t;h ty greed Mike McCarthy, a nearby resident and
<br /> that the one -acre park's damaged vegeta- member of the loose -knit task force. stakeholders," she said. "There are park
<br /> tion should be protected for the next 21 "This fence is like gasoline on a fire." Turn to PARK, Page 2C
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<br /> PARK Continued from Page 1C •
<br /> neighbors, both businesses and residents, who have very action until after Thursday's public meeting. She also
<br /> strong feelings about the park being closed, and their reminded them that the city never specified where it
<br /> voices were not being heard." would place the fencing.
<br /> The issue could come to a head Thursday when city - But several neighbors said they were led to believe
<br /> officials meet with the task force at 7 p.m. in the that their recommendations — limiting the fencing to
<br /> Whiteaker Elementary School cafeteria at 21 N. Grand vegetation along the park's perimeters — would be hon-
<br /> St. The meeting, originally called to look at long -range ored.
<br /> strategies for the park, is now expected to include de- Tom Musselwhite, who lives a block from the park,
<br /> bate about'the park fence. said residents' assumptions are understandable. "The
<br /> Norris said she hopes the meeting attracts a broad city told us from the beginning, 'This is your neighbor-
<br /> range of neighbors. "We need to get all points of view in hood problem so you solve it Figure out what to do and
<br /> the room," she said. let us know, he said.
<br /> "So the neighbors get real involved ... and then the
<br /> Earlier this month, some neighbors asked that the city goes and does what it wants to do anyway."
<br /> troubled park at West Fourth Avenue and Blair Boule- McCarthy said the city's decision to fence off the dirt
<br /> yard be closed. But on Sept. 9, the day of the scheduled playground area is particularly vexing. "What .vegeta-
<br /> closure, homeless activists moved in and set up camp. A tion are they trying to protect there ?" he asked.
<br /> day later, six people were arrested for violating city Frank Cortez, another task force member, said he
<br /> rules prohibiting camping in parks or using them after fears the fencing may provide an unintended haven for
<br /> 11 p.m. drug dealing and other criminal activity.
<br /> That situation led neighbors to start meeting again, "Now a few people will jump the fence and use the
<br /> this time with two facilitators, Karen Tarnow and Neil park for their own personal enjoyment," he predicted.
<br /> Van Steenbergen, hired by the city at a cost of $50 per „ There's no access to check what's going on in there."
<br /> hour. The mediators and task force members walked City officials initially indicated that the fence's loca-
<br /> through the park together last Saturday, agreeing on tion wasn't negotiable, but softened somewhat later in
<br /> which parts of the park they felt should be placed tem- the day. Lyle said the city is looking at reopening the
<br /> porarily off- limiis. park's small playground area - perhaps as soon as this
<br /> Tarnow and Van Steenbergen spent Tuesday shut- week — after removing a piece of play equipment that
<br /> tling between City Hall and the park, where they talked is rotting.
<br /> with disgruntled neighbors. Several uniformed police The city may also scale back the fencing in later
<br /> officers also monitored the park scene Tuesday. months, Lyle said, adding, "We're willing to talk about
<br /> Tarnow urged those gathered at the park to take no it."
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