New Search
For now, the substantial completion of the path project is being characterized as a "soft opening." Barricades and "path <br /> closed"signs will be removed now that all of the safety features have been installed, including railings and signs where <br /> the path crosses the railroad near Terry Street. More extensive publicity will be done later this spring, when some <br /> 'ditional work—such as installing benches and interpretive signs—has been completed. Ten cast-bronze disks with <br /> natural features such as native plants and birds have already been installed along the path. The spring announcement <br /> will also tie in to a dedication event for the entire 1135 project. That event is being scheduled in May, which is National <br /> Wetlands Month. <br /> As part of the project, the Meadowlark Prairie overlook is being completed along Greenhill Road. Site grading and <br /> parking lot construction have been completed, and portable toilets are scheduled to be installed soon. By May, staff <br /> expects to have additional amenities in place, including interpretive signs, covered picnic tables, a web cam, and a <br /> memorial dedicated to former City Engineer Les Lyle. Design work is also under way on the Checkermallow access lot <br /> on the south side of Royal, east of Greenhill Road. For more information about the Fern Ridge Path project, contact <br /> Project Inspector Mike Dunaway at 682-8819. <br /> Native Trees and Shrubs Planted Along Two Miles of Amazon Creek <br /> A project to further establish native trees and shrubs along the banks of <br /> Amazon Creek was recently completed by the Wetlands and Open <br /> Waterways Section of the Parks and Open Space Division. This and <br /> other efforts to protect and enhance the waterway were undertaken its <br /> because Amazon Creek receives large amounts of Eugene's <br /> stormwater runoff and because it is part of the Willamette River basin <br /> and therefore protected under the federal Clean Water Act. <br /> rr. <br /> The purpose of this project was to re-establish native plant species in <br /> certain areas along the stream corridor while providing additional <br /> •Idlife habitat, bank stabilization, and improved water quality. More <br /> man 3,000 cuttings, or live stakes, consisting of black cottonwood, red <br /> osier dogwood, and two species of native willow were planted along the Crews plant Willamette Valley ponderosa pine along <br /> Amazon Creek <br /> edge of the creek. Three hundred young Oregon ash trees were <br /> planted along floodplain benches that were created when sections of the creek were widened in 1995, and 21 Willamette <br /> Valley ponderosa pine trees were planted at the top of the bank next to two overlooks on the Amazon Creek bike path. <br /> Another 160 Oregon ash trees were planted further upstream through a portion of Amazon Park near the Adidas Trail. In <br /> total, two miles of creek were planted with native trees and shrubs. <br /> The Urban Forestry Section of Parks and Open Space provided assistance in the selection, placement and planting <br /> specifications for the trees and shrubs. For more information about this project, contact Project Manager Brian Elliott in <br /> Open Waterways at 682-4902. <br /> Dedication Event Slated for Final Segment of East Bank Trail <br /> Almost 100 invitations have been sent out for a January 31 celebration that will include a ribbon-cutting on the final <br /> segment of the East Bank Trail and the dedication of Eugene's 12-mile-long riverbank trail system to former Mayor Ruth <br /> Bascom. The event begins at noon at the north end of the Greenway Bridge (southwest corner of the Valley River <br /> Center parking lot). Councilor Gary Pape'will serve as master of ceremonies, and speakers will include Mayor Jim <br /> Torrey, Congressman Peter DeFazio, and Ruth Bascom. <br /> Meanwhile, workers are in high gear, putting the final touches on the one-mile-long section of trail north of Valley River <br /> Center in time for the grand opening ceremony. Work is nearing completion on a wrought-iron fence along the path <br /> adjacent to Willamette Oaks. Installation of the fence was part of an agreement the City made with Willamette Oaks in <br /> xchange for an easement to construct the path along the river. Until the fence is completed, Willamette Oaks has hired <br /> EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 <br /> January 24,2003 cc012303.wpd <br />