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Parks and Open Space Division <br /> Sustainable Programs and Services <br /> 1. Economic Sustainability <br /> Wetlands Mitigation Bank <br /> The West Eugene Wetlands Mitigation Bank provides a significant benefit for businesses <br /> and other development projects by assisting with the regulatory requirement to mitigate <br /> for impacts to wetlands. The "bank" sells credits to developers that allows them to <br /> proceed with their development without conducting their own on -site mitigation. The <br /> environment benefits from this approach since the bank carries out large -scale restoration <br /> with extremely high ecological standards. The West Eugene Wetlands mitigation bank is <br /> considered a model for other communities for its innovative and high quality <br /> management of the regulatory process. <br /> 2. Social /Community Sustainability <br /> Draft Parks, Recreation & Open Space Comprehensive Plan <br /> These core values form the cornerstone for the draft comprehensive plan: health, equity, <br /> community, service, and sustainability. These values involve supporting community <br /> stewardship of our built and natural environment, ensuring services are equitably <br /> distributed throughout the community, building a sense of community, providing the <br /> highest quality programs and facilities, contributing to overall ecosystem health thorugh <br /> preservation and restoration, pursuing a strong understanding of our natural systems, and <br /> creating a legacy for future generations. Goals, strategies, and proposals to address the <br /> needs of all segments of our community for the next 20 years are proposed. <br /> Volunteer Programs <br /> The Parks & Open Space Division offers three volunteer programs to allow Eugene <br /> residents the chance to contribute substantially to their parks and open space. The Stream <br /> Team program provides the opportunity for people to do hands -on environmental work, <br /> restoring and caring for the city's waterways and natural areas. Stream Team volunteers <br /> maintain two native plant nurseries where they sow seeds and nurture plants to be used in <br /> restoration projects across the city. The Volunteers -In -Parks program provides an avenue <br /> for neighbors to help improve their local parks and the Ridgeline trail. The <br /> NeighborWoods program works with local business partners and community members to <br /> plant trees along our streets and continue to grow the city's urban forest. <br /> 3. Environmental Sustainability <br /> Waterways Study <br /> The Eugene - Springfield Metropolitan Waterways Study is a five -year partnership with <br /> the Army Corps of Engineers that will lead to restoration of many of our local waterways. <br /> The study will look at environmental benefits, social benefits, and economic benefits <br /> when evaluating potential projects. This is a new approach that the Corps of Engineers is <br /> beginning to do nationwide and we are one of the first to attempt such a process. <br />