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10/25/96 10 :39 $541 683 6826 EUG PUBLIC WORKS 444 MAINTENANCE U005/006 . . IT 0l Y MAIiAhON (�Oplc^sS t0: se) 1 =` September 18, 1996 To: Mayor Bascom and City Council Members From: Nena Lovinger Re: Scobert Park Temporary Closure As one of the volunteers who worked on the creation and maintenance of the park during the 1980s and early 90s, 1 want to speak on behalf of the trees and plants of Scobert. They cannot speak for themselves nor defend themselves. Some of them have been here for decades. They date from when this site was part of the Scobert family farm on the outskirts of Eugene. Orchard and shade trees here remind us of those times. Rhododendrons' and azaleas came to the park on a rainy, cold November day in 1986 when Bob Emmons, John Reavis, who owned the Scobert property until a few years . and I went to the Hendricks Park to dig plants to bring to Scobert. We,had the city' DISTRIBUTED TO: blessing in that endeavor. The rain never stopped while we worked- -Bob, John and;I:,1AYO became mud balls, but the cool damp conditions were perfect for transplanting, and khpCC rhododendrons and azaleas survived the winter to thrive and grace the park with beauty come springtime. More plants, mostly perennials, came to the park from nurseries up and down tte ST MGR P �- valley. During trips to collect the plants, Whiteaker neighbors got to know the nurseryCCC owners, many of whom were Tong time residents happy to share their knowledge of I pT D PS history of the area and of indigenous plants. As a result of these trips I am still in to ch with rwfri Russell and Yvonne Graham who have a lovely woodland nursery northwest of Sal . Knowing that some of their plants are in Scobert, four years ago the Grahams visited this park and remarked on its tranquility and beauty that many of us have enjoyed as well. Other plants came to the park from gardens of Whiteaker neighbors who wanted to contribute and share. These generous neighbors saw the sharing of plants as a way to spread health and beauty throughout the neighborhood. They trusted that the plants would be enjoyed by all, and nurtured and protected in Scobert Park. It is important to honor that trust. It is important that every visitor to the park is a caretaker. Until we can reasonably ensure that defenseless plants in Scobert will not be stomped and otherwise brutalized, and that respectful visitors to the park will not be _ harmed, I believe the park should be closed. It is important to us all that health and beauty I llw prevail.