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• (ire 5. PROGRAM NARRATIVE — In the space provided, describe all elements of the project and the need for assistance, project objectives, facilities to be .constructed, existing facilities which are to be renovated, removed or demolished. Describe who wi71 do the work and who will provide supervision, historical site use, community involvement, problems or desires that led to project being selected. Describe how the project relates to current and future public recreation needs, expected results and benefits. Describe any unusual or unique features of the project such as innovative design, conservation, unusual site conditions, etc. Describe the topography of the site and present development on the site and how proposal fits in with future development, and the anticipated start and end dates of the project. See Section 2.1.A in Grants Manual. The City of Eugene seeks to acquire fee title ownership of a 39 -acre parcel of undeveloped land that has recently been purchased by a developer. The parcel has been identified in the City of Eugene's inventory of natural resource areas for several years as the highest ranked site, and is possibly the most pristine unprotected natural site within the Eugene - Springfield metropolitan area. Past efforts to acquire the parcel or portions thereof have been unsuccessful The City had an agreement with the previous owners of this parcel to purchase a portion with the remainder being donated, but it unexpectedly fell through as a marginally higher offer from a developer was accepted instead. After contacting the new owner, the City was given an option with a three week expiration date to purchase the entire property with no donation. Since City funding available for this purchase was inadequate, we sought other options and were able to secure bridge funding from The Nature Conservancy to allow us to purchase the parcel. Le Although we have begun the acquisition process, we have not yet acquired the property and are hereby requesting a waiver of retroactivity in the event that we need to close on the property prior to the date grants are awarded. All work regarding contracting out appraisal, negotiating agreements, and any other details required for acquisition will be done by City staff, primarily the City's Senior Real Estate Officer, Russ Royer, with assistance from the Parks Planning office, The Nature Conservancy, and others as needed. This parcel lies with the Amazon Headwaters section of the. Ridgeline Park between Dillard Road and Fox Hollow Road. Within the last five years the City has spent $805,500 and has added 74 acres to this section with the intent of increasing public access, preserving Important habitat and protecting stream channels. The East Fork Amazon Headwaters parcel, would build on the foundation already laid in this section adding an additional 39 acres of very high quality natural area to this important and highly popular park system. The site spans from 810' .to 530' in elevation, and includes steep slopes with two main stream channels meeting in a floodplain with braided channels at the low point. The site contains riparian forest, broad - leafed forested wetland, upland mixed -fir forest with stands of old growth Douglas -fir. The property, if acquired, will serve multiple functions including preservation of water quality, storm water retention, habitat preservation, and passive recreation. The site, although not yet surveyed for rare plants or animals, provides suitable habitat for at least two rare upland plants, wayside aster (Aster vialis) and tall bugbane (Cimicifuga elate), and one rare animal, the red - legged frog (Rana aurora). f hise 1 ( Amazon Creek runs from east to west through the heart of Eugene. After decades of managing the creek for flood control by stripping it of vegetation and lining portions of it with concrete, an