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EUGENE Public Works <br /> Maintenance <br /> City of Eugene <br /> 1820 Roosevelt Boulevard <br /> Eugene, Oregon 97402 <br /> (541) 682 -4800 <br /> December 22, 1997 <br /> Peter Goodale <br /> Willamette Valley Retriever Club <br /> 480 Silver Meadows Drive <br /> Eugene, OR 97404 <br /> Dear Peter Goodale: <br /> I am writing this letter in response to your inquiry to Bob Hammitt regarding permission for the <br /> Willamette Valley Retriever Club to continue use of Golden Gardens Park, and the potential sale <br /> of the property. Please accept my apology for the time it has taken to complete this response. <br /> The situation and issues surround Golden Gardens Park are not ideal for retriever activities as <br /> you would choose. The fact that the ponds are City property prevents fire arms from being <br /> discharged. The lack of finances to replace the bridge or install a culvert (which requires much <br /> engineering and permitting from regulatory agencies) across the channel makes access awkward. <br /> The Eugene Parks Plan called for this pond/park area to eventually become a public golf course. <br /> Realistically, no one believes the City will be the owner /operator of such a venture. We have <br /> been working with prospective private parties occasionally to make that objective become a <br /> reality. Until something becomes a reality in that respect, or until we officially change course at <br /> that site with respect to golf, the sale of this property is not an option. <br /> However, if your club wished to present an offer that had the support of the City Councilor for <br /> Ward 6, and if there was support that could be demonstrated from the surrounding neighbors and <br /> general public, the Parks Plan could be amended. Then the portion north of the drainage channel <br /> might be declared surplus, at which point competitive bids would be solicited for its sale. The <br /> burden of that effort would be with the club. <br /> At this point in time, retriever activity may occur on the site in an as -is condition, subject to <br /> acquiring a variance to two park rules that prohibit off-leash dogs (except at designated <br /> locations) and the use of guns in parks. In the past the firing of blanks has, on occasion, been <br /> provisionally approved. Continuation of that variance may be requested and will be evaluated on <br /> a case -by -case basis. For off-leash activity, written permission will be given that conforms to <br /> your club's schedule of events at the site. It must be understood that opening up the site to off - <br /> leash dogs on a given day can not be an exclusive permit to club dogs only. <br /> Technically there could be a solution for using the ponds in conjunction with an agreement with <br /> the adjacent owner (lease), or outright purchase by the club of an adjacent parcel that is outside <br /> the city limits which wrap around the west, north and east boundaries of the park. The City's <br />