Urban Forestry, Hendricks Park - Laserfiche WebLink

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS HENDRICKS PARK FORESTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN GENERAL The City of Eugene, Oregon seeks proposals from qualified consultants with experience in the management of natural forested areas surrounded by urban development, to prepare a plan that will guide decisions on managing the health of this forest and related improvements for those who recreate in the area. HISTORY Excerpts from Hendricks Park brochure: " Hendricks Park was Eugene's first city park. Atop the forested ridge line of Southeast Eugene, Hendricks Park overlooks the Willamette River, the University of Oregon, and the City of Eugene. The 77 acres of forested park land contain Douglas fir trees over 200 years old and hiking trails that wander through a rich forest flora of ferns, trilliums, and other wild flowers..." "...Hendricks Park was created in 1906 when Martha and Thomas Hendricks, realizing "the necessity to procure such a park at the present time while it was available in its natural state," purchased 47 acres of forested ridge line and granted it to the City as park land. The City purchased an adjoining tract of 31 acres and the entire property was dedicated as Hendricks Park " BACKGROUND Responding to citizen concern in 1996 about tree failures within the park, the city contracted with a consultant arborist to perform visual hazard surveys of approximately 300 trees which either abutted structures in the park or residential properties along the park boundaries. The recommendation from this report was to perform a more detailed evaluation of 94 of these trees. City Staff conducted additional evaluation on 57 of these trees in 1997. Testing conducted included resistograph measurements and coring. The resulting recommendation for removal of 18 of these trees was taken to public comment in July of 1997. Due to the level of concern expressed in the meeting about the proposed removal an ad -hoc committee was formed to review the process leading up to the removal recommendation. The final result of this process was a controversial partial removal of several trees leaving tall stumps intended to be developed into future wildlife trees.