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0 , <br /> 5e, iteeeeceo, <br /> E U G E N E <br /> &2:P/1 Parks and September 21, 2005 5 <br /> Open Space <br /> Active Bethel Citizens <br /> o divsionofPubllcWorks c/o Linda Swishe <br /> 1820 Roosevelt mod. 3 285 Bell Avenue <br /> Eugene, Oregon 97402 : /72//e-- <br /> Eugene, OR 97402 "Ters L ` 7�eA-fr <br /> (541) 682 -4800 <br /> (541) 682 -4882 Fax Dear Active Bethel Citizens — <br /> www.d.eugene.orus/parks <br /> I would like to share with you some of the measures taken by the Parks & Open <br /> Space Division to improve the safety of the park and allow for easier access by <br /> emergency responders following the June 19" double drowning at Golden Gardens <br /> Park. <br /> Our research into this tragedy has not discovered any specific change in the park <br /> that would have prevented the accident short of filling the ponds. However, we <br /> have found a few things that we felt could be done within the park to both help <br /> park users better understand the nature of these ponds and to help emergency <br /> Parks and Open services provide a quick response in the event of an accident. <br /> Space Planning We have completed a detailed survey of each pond to obtain accurate depth <br /> Parks Maintenance information. These surveys have determined that each of the ponds varies in <br /> depth and that the maximum depth in any pond is 16 feet — certainly deep enough <br /> Urban Forestry to drown in but not as deep as many people in the neighborhood thought. <br /> Natural Resources Several new signs have been placed at each pond. Each sign includes the name of <br /> the pond, its depth, and a name and contact number for more information. The <br /> signs are visible from various public access points and provide vital location <br /> information to emergency responders. <br /> We have not found the bottom of the ponds to be littered with debris or <br /> dangerous obstructions. However, we will continue looking into this, and soon a <br /> dive team from the Lane County Dive Association will be looking beneath the <br /> surface for potential hazards. <br /> With the exception of the southerly pond, we found that there was not heavy <br /> vegetation within the ponds. With regards to the southerly pond we did find <br /> extensive invasive vegetation floating on the surface. Over several days, our <br /> maintenance crews and a contractor cleared away the majority of this invasive <br /> weed. We anticipate returning when water levels rise in the A -2 channel to <br /> remove more of this invasive weed from the channel itself. <br /> We did find that emergency access to the ponds was difficult due to emergency <br /> vehicles needing to access the park through the private lands to the north. To <br /> help emergency responders know how to quickly access the site, a detailed map of <br /> the area including access roads was created and shared with the Eugene Fire & <br /> Emergency Services Department. <br /> EL GENE <br />