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Medlin, Johnny <br /> From: Etter, John <br /> To: Medlin, Johnny <br /> Subject: RE: Amazon Park Planning Meeting <br /> Date: Thursday, March 31, 1994 10:53AM <br /> I knew prior to the Amazon Park planning process that the meetings would be an arena for battle. I joked <br /> to someone that the athletes and the environmentalist would be in there duking it out. We didn't <br /> deliberately want a battle, but rather an educational experience, which I think it largely was. I am thinking <br /> of summarizing the testimony in a concise way - -a sound bite educational summary - -to show what we as <br /> planners are being asked to deal with. They can be the findings on which a particular plan is proposed. <br /> As to the process, I am not aware of other planning efforts where so many diverse interested parties who <br /> covet roughly the same space have been brought together to develop a plan. Without a model or past <br /> experience to go on, I am trying to keep an educational atmosphere in which people can become aware of <br /> (and hopefully appreciate) the various reasons people love this park and how it can become better. A <br /> debate with winners and losers wouldn't give us any different information than is coming out now; a <br /> popularity vote where a majority wins might cause some elements that should be developed to lose out. I <br /> am open to specific suggestions as to format, but do not feel (yet ?) that stopping to do a separate master <br /> plan for the park is essential. There may be some special biological /environmental studies that should be <br /> done prior to making certain decisions, but not a whole master plan. The Parks and Recreation Plan now <br /> has goals and guiding policies that I believe adequately cover park development. <br /> This is going to be a valuable exercise in that we get to a level of detail and discussion that doesn't come <br /> out in the preparation of the Parks and Recreation Plan. As the plans have been prepared, we never have <br /> taken extended periods to analyze how the various implementation strategies (add sportsfields, add <br /> parking, etc.) might be supported or in conflict with goals and policies. Various goals and policies can be in <br /> conflict at certain sites, and it is only when we get to the details of the plan that we have to arbitrate <br /> between the goals of providing the services and protecting the environment. For Amazon, we planners <br /> assumed that there was enough area to allow the various interests to have an adequate amount of their <br /> favorite amenity. <br /> Why this debate is valuable now is that it forces the question of how this community is going to <br /> accommodate growth and change. In a way, the bottom line is that there are too many people in Eugene <br /> for some. Most of the people who live in Eugene were not born here and so live here by choice. Most <br /> would say the environment and park system was a significant factor in making Eugene a good place to live, <br /> work and retire. Appreciation needs to be given to the people who, two generations ago, raised the money <br /> to buy Amazon Park, and suggesting that in the face of continued growth, this generation needs to make <br /> an equal effort in order to maintain the quality of what they were given. <br /> The growth issue, and issues such as whether it's better to have people travel to the edge of town (across <br /> the Ferry Street Bridge ?) to new athletic fields, are ones I hope we can get input on. How they get <br /> answered in this forum will be helpful in the types of proposals we make as we update not only the <br /> Amazon Park Development Plan, but the Eugene Parks and Recreation Plan. <br /> Two closing comments: I received several favorable comments about the fact that we held the meetings <br /> and how they were conducted; any suggests for changes are welcome and will be considered. Second, <br /> Doug Post and I have already felt moved to make some changes in what has been proposed based on the <br /> testimony. The public will definitely see some changes the next time around. <br /> - -John <br /> From: Medlin, Johnny <br /> To: Etter, John <br /> Subject: FW: Amazon Park Planning Meeting <br /> Date: Thursday, March 31, 1994 9:24AM <br /> John, looks like people are not comfortable with the process. Comments? johnny <br /> Page 1 <br />