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Eugene's park system is sorely inadequate and its parks planning and acquisition <br />program nearly non - existent. It hasn't always been that way. A generation ago there was <br />active citizen support, through private and public channels, to expand our parks system. <br />Bond measures were passed in 1965, 1968, 1972, and 1976 to acquire park lands, the last <br />effort start ng a ridgeline trail system. Since then nothing! <br />The MetroPlan Update of 1987 compared our access to various park facilities with <br />standards adopted by the National Recreation and Park Association and found our supply <br />of community, neighborhood, and developed recreational sites fell considerably short of <br />desired norms at that time. <br />Since then, our parks program has fallen on even harder times. In the wake of <br />Measure 5, the Eugene Parks and Recreation Department was disbanded. Parks pfanning <br />has been relegated to less than two full time staff within the Department of Public Works. <br />Despite good intentions, little can be accomplished_ No significant park acquisition or <br />development has occurred since 1987, though economic activity and population have <br />grown steadily. <br />A recent effort to update the master plan for Amazon Park between 24th and 29th <br />Avenues in South Eugene clearly demonstrated the need for more park land. Citizens came <br />forward with demands for better walling, biking, and in -line skating paths, skateboarding <br />pits, lighted ball fields and running trails, darkness for stargazing, unleashed dog runs, kite <br />flying areas, seniors benches and shade trees, public bathrooms, parking lots, wetlands <br />and ponds, birdwatching trails, native flower and tree protection, nature education sites, <br />toddlers playgrounds, gymnasium facilities, swimming pools, and more. Whew!! <br />Eugene falls short on all of these recreational and openspace needs, especially near <br />its prime residential areas. A recent analysis of access to city parks confirmed that over half <br />the homes in Eugene do not have a neighborhood park within "walking distance" of one- <br />half mile. Almost all homes in newer developments of the South Hills and <br />Willakenzie/North Eugene area lack access to neighborhood parks. <br />Unfotunately, developers are not required to provide neighborhood park facilities. <br />Yet, Eugene collects less than $400 per newly developed residential lot in system <br />development charges (SDCs) reserved for parks acquisition. Given today's prices, this is <br />about enough to buy one lot for about every 100 new homes built. The city has estimated it <br />would take nearly $20 million to acquire and develop parks adequate for existing <br />neighborhoods, but currently has a reserve of less than $1 million in park - related SDCs. <br />What can be done? <br />A first step would be to increase significantly the residential SDCs for parks. <br />Springfield recently approved a $1000 park SDC for each new residence. Eugene needs to <br />