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Page 2 of 3 <br />is now getting natural amenity improvements due to neighborhood influence. Influence should also be <br />awarded to Amazon Park neighbors for a fair process for community priorities that is data driven. The <br />information we are asking for here will serve the citizens and staff well for years to come when <br />considering improvements in our parks. <br />Data exist that favor taking a second look at year- after -year intensification of Amazon Park with <br />constructed sports fields. Please read the only statistically valid report Eugene has regarding community <br />desires http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/PW/PARKS/PROS/PROS Some of the findings from <br />this February 2003 report include: <br />1. When asked if parks need more recreation programs, 61 % of people said yes, with their top <br />three desires being: <br />a. special events such as concerts in the parks & festivals (23.6 %), <br />b. outdoor /environment programs (18 %), and <br />C. after - school programs (14 %). <br />2. When asked what types of recreation elements people would like to see more of (with sports <br />fields <br />offered as an example) the top three responses for outdoor recreation were: <br />a. multipurpose trails (26.9 %) <br />b. river access for boating and swimming (14 %), and <br />C. playgrounds (11%), <br />Responses requesting more sports fields were negligible, and must have been in the minor "Other" <br />category <br />of 2.7 %, as they did not register in the summary (page 10 & 11) <br />3. "Eugene residents prefer a diverse park system that provides a balance of active and natural <br />area parks. <br />When asked what is the right proportion of parks for Eugene, more than half (51.8 %) of <br />survey respondents <br />said there should be an equal distribution of natural areas and active parks, and "respondents <br />from Southeast Eugene <br />were more likely than average (73.5 %) to see the need for natural area improvements" (page 2 <br />& 10). <br />Continuing to drain our resources for sports fields and serving special interest desires at the cost of <br />community desires creates an anti -bond sentiment <br />Hopefully, staff and council see the fiscal and political advantages of being forthcoming with <br />existing information, and for considering reasonable alternatives for Amazon Park with broad <br />community input. Any assistance you or other City Councilors can give us in assembling the following <br />existing data, as requested by Citizens for Public Accountability, will be appreciated: <br />1. USAGE <br />A. Determine Amazon Park acreage and building space devoted to different types of activities <br />and approximate annual hours of usage of these spaces. Both organized and daily recreational <br />activities <br />should be accounted for. Include any fields or courts maintained by the City. <br />B. Estimate vehicle presence associated with different usages. <br />12/16/03 <br />