4J Stadium, Through May 1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

New Search

The firm of Cameron McCarthy Gilbert (CMG) performed the conceptual planning and estimating for the sports park concepts. The range of costs for a full sports complex varied considerably, depending upon whether fields were to see minor refurbishing, major refurbishing, complete replacement with sand -based grass, or replacement with synthetic surface. Some members of the Fields of Dreams Committee wanted to see synthetic surface field(s) to permit more year round use and more use period. Currently, existing natural turf field use is limited (including at times not being available at all) during periods of rain. Sand -based grass fields will permit more use - but the capital cost is considerably more and the annual maintenance cost is prohibitive given current resources. (And failure to perform appropriate annual maintenance will lead to complete degradation of sand -based grass fields and the need to replace the fields in full). The capital cost of synthetic surface was seen as prohibitive. Partnership The District desires to build $6.2 to $6.4 million worth of new athletic facilities, with starting funds of only $3.5 million. There is a perceived capacity to fund -raise or acquire in -kind donations of $1+ million. The City desires to build two or more youth sports parks on District property and ideally would like to have, as part of the parks, one or more synthetic playing fields available to youth and the community. The City has $4 million toward this goal, with the cost of youth sports parks with synthetic surface fields and necessary infrastructure being significantly more than the available $4 million. City staff and District staff started meeting in February/March of 1999 to discuss the possibility of a partnership to combine the proposed youth sports parks with some of the District's proposed four fields. Design charettes were planned and held with the Churchill, Sheldon, and Cal Young communities to see if such a proposed combination could be viable and desirable. The firm of CMG was employed to assist with this endeavor. The response has been mostly positive, with one notable exception: Neighbors of Sheldon HS are concerned about current traffic, parking, and other issues due to heavy use of the existing school and community athletic facilities. Several discussion have been held with the Sheldon neighbors and neighborhood group to identify potential solutions to the existing and potential new concerns related to traffic, parking, and related issues. To date, most issues have not been fully addressed to the satisfaction of the neighbors. On June 16, 1999, upon the recommendation of the staff and City Manager, the Eugene City Council agreed in principle to support a partnership with the District to build youth sports parks and synthetic athletic fields, subject to the development of a long term use agreement. On July 1, the District School Board voted unanimously to support the same partnership, subject to execution of a long term use agreement, and final approval by the City Council, scheduled for August 9, 1999. The Board directed the 4J staff to continue to work with the City to solve the neighborhood concerns at Sheldon. The Current Proposal