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go av-te. Hews lekkeY\ 13,10c- <br /> Parks and Open Space <br /> Upgraded athletic fields, more ridgeline trail property, and active plans to improve Amazon Pool <br /> and build new youth sports parks are among the ways that parks and open space projects are <br /> enhancing the quality of life here in Eugene. <br /> Eugene voters in November 1998 approved a $25.3 million parks and open space measure. Soon <br /> after the election, City park planners rolled up their sleeves and began turning the community's <br /> wishes into realities. Because of the number of projects funded by the measure, full <br /> implementation may take up to five years. Here's an update on the work that's been done so far: <br /> Athletic Field Renovations <br /> Nine local athletic fields were improved this year using parks and open space funds. Two soccer <br /> fields at Spencer Butte Middle School and two soccer fields at Roosevelt Middle School were <br /> upgraded with a patented "sand channel greens" drainage system, fields at Monroe School/Ascot <br /> Park and Malabon Elementary were upgraded with irrigation equipment and turf renovation, and <br /> turf grass work was done at Willard and Washington elementary schools. All fields should be <br /> playable next spring. Additional field projects are scheduled in 2000. <br /> Ridgeline Trail <br /> Recent property acquisitions include 15 acres purchased in cooperation with the Audubon Society <br /> in the upper Amazon headwaters and approximately 20 acres purchased cooperatively with the <br /> Bureau of Land Management in the Willow Creek watershed. A number of other park and open <br /> space acquisitions are being actively pursued. <br /> Youth Sports Parks <br /> One of the highlights of the parks and open space measure was the concept of youth sports parks <br /> featuring a mix of recreational facilities for youth sports, family picnics, and other community <br /> uses. Much work has been done to develop this vision in cooperation with School District 4J. <br /> Three school sites have been identified: Churchill/Kennedy, Sheldon High School, and Cal Young <br /> Middle School. Plans also call for placing year -round synthetic turf fields at North Eugene and <br /> South Eugene high schools, and skateboard parks are being designed for the Churchill/Kennedy <br /> and Cal Young sites. Two series of community meetings have been held, and issues for each <br /> specific site have been identified. Staff currently is at work on designs that address those issues <br /> and concerns, and construction of the new youth sports parks tentatively is scheduled for summer <br /> 2000. <br /> Neighborhood and Community Parks <br /> Among the parks currently in the design development process are Laurel Hill Park, Irwin Park, <br /> Shadow Wood Park, Walnut Grove Park, and Hawkins View Park. Work is under way on the <br /> first phase of the new Bethel Community Park, and this winter will see the start of the master plan <br /> process for Alton Baker and Skinner Butte parks. Construction will occur next summer at those <br /> parks where development is scheduled and the public review process has been completed. Also <br /> next year, design planning will begin on the next set of parks to be developed as part of the parks <br /> and open space measure. <br />