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s Kathleen Dixon & Weltzin Blix 2295 East 29 Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97403 541 343 -1957 June 29, 2009 John Clark Natural Resources Maintenance, Supervisor Eugene Parks and Open Space 1820 Roosevelt Bv. Eugene, Oregon 97402 Dear John, We are writing because of questions and concems about the staging of the Ribbon Trail System from our driveway entrance on East 29 We would really appreciate it if you could use the Trailheads rather than the entrance to our home to construct the proposed Ribbon Trail System between Hendrick's Park and the Ridgeline Trail for several reasons. The trail and entrance to the Spring -30th Connector is four houses from our driveway with an intersection that allows for tuming around and a marked trail to reach the Trailhead for the Ribbon Trail System and the Ridgeline Trail. The neighborhood, hikers and bicyclists use it on a regular basis. The Transplan Pedestrian & Bicycle Plan (the Regional Transporation Plan) has been to widen the Spring Connector Multi - Use Path from Spring Bv. to 30"' Avenue. We've included an earlier Letter of. Intent for the City's request to construct a 12' wide concrete path (22' total?) with lighting in place of the natural trail to connect two residential neighborhoods and in addition be able to reach Lane Community College. It's less than a block to the Ribbon Trail to Hendrick's Park and the Ridgeline Trail. Last week the City was working in the neighborhood and appeared to be surveying and locating utilities on Spring Bv. They've told neighbors they'll be improving the trail for the Spring Connector. Being in the County, we understand that the County doesn't have to maintain public roads but Lane County does distinguish between roads that function as private and those that are for public use. We have had the sole responsibility of constructing and maintaining our driveway for approximately 40 years. There is no public tumaround or parking, it only serves our home and ends in wildlife area. The Trailhead for the Ribbon Trail at Spring -30th has adequate room to tum around and allows for parking. The proposed Bucks toilet at the entrance to our home would be degrading and the gravel truck deliveries through the summer would make our routine and frequent deliveries, landscape truck and trailer, and parking difficult. We have a considerable amount of family and company in the summer and the dust is extremely bad on this road, particularly when dumping gravel. The madrone along with several other plants may be destroyed in this particular area. This was an orchard before we lived here and the woods are full of cherry, apple and plum trees that the animals have become dependent on. The noxious weed you referred to is most likely a Persicarea that Wallace Ruff (previous owner, landscape architect) enjoyed. It was here long before either of us moved here and has never spread. You mentioned the reason for putting the Bucks toilet in front of our entrance was because of the vandalism problem at the 30t Trailhead to the Ribbon Trail System. It is also what we experienced when the trails were opened in the 1980's. It would help the neighborhood if the City did stage it at the 30 Trailhead to begin to curb the vandal and drug problem. After a trait project was constructed by volunteers years ago deer were killed with bow and arrows, gun shots were common, there was poaching, houses were robbed and people were discovered living under trees. The animals were scarce and our son could no longer play in the woods. We contacted Wallace Ruff about protecting the border of our property and I've included one of his earlier letters regarding his intent for a protective strip for our property. He sent a similar one in 1996 and when he died unexpectedly the City approached the family regarding the Ribbon Trail, which was in keeping with his wishes.