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PARK PLAN POLITICS <br /> A group of southeast Eugene neighbors <br /> opposes city plans to develop the Rexius <br /> Loop turnaround park area, located at the <br /> 2003 end of West Amazon Drive and Martin <br /> Eugene Weekly —March 13 <br /> Street. Neighbor Ursula Lindqvist says, "I <br /> Loor can't speak for the whole neighborhood, <br /> but I personally don't want the fundamen- <br /> tal character of the park to change." <br /> That fundamental character includes a <br /> natural woodsy area with a creek, cedar <br /> chip trails and meadows. The area, for- <br /> mally known as Frank Kinney Park, was <br /> slated for improvements in the 1989 parks <br /> and recreation master plan. It was later ap- <br /> proved by a mayor's committee to be <br /> added to a list of park areas that would un- <br /> dergo development,which would be made <br /> using $200,000 from the 1998 Parks and <br /> Open Space bond measure. <br /> Robin Hostick, landscape architect for <br /> the city of Eugene's Parks and Open Space <br /> Planning department, says the initial de- <br /> sign process happens in three workshops, <br /> where community members participate in <br /> brainstorming and commenting on design <br /> ideas. <br /> In workshops last fall and at the end of <br /> _ " February, Hostick presented ideas for de- <br /> velopment, including the addition of con- <br /> crete sidewalks and a small playground. <br /> Since this is a public space, the hope, ac- <br /> cording to Hostick, is to provide accessi- <br /> bility and "different kinds of uses for dif- <br /> ferent kinds of people." But neighbors at <br /> the workshops reacted in strong opposition <br /> to proposed changes. <br /> Neighbor Zane Cornett says, "We're <br /> not looking at the tradeoffs [of develop- <br /> ment]." Regarding accessibility, he says <br /> that while the intent is good, it brings into <br /> question the issue of parking, of which <br /> there is little in the Rexius Loop area.This <br /> could mean parking problems or further <br /> development to accommodate more cars. <br /> Residents have suggested that rather <br /> than using the $200,000 to develop the <br /> park,the money could be used to maintain <br /> or improve existing elements, such as the <br /> cedar chip trails that tend to flood in fall <br /> and winter. <br /> Hostick understands concerns for low <br /> or even no impact development, but also <br /> feels a responsibility to provide a service <br /> to as many citizens as possible. He says, <br /> "My feeling is that we've gone through an <br /> iteration of design that is one of the most <br /> ecologically sensitive designs we've ever <br /> done." Any actual construction wouldn't <br /> happen will con- <br /> tinue in theuntil final workshopdiscussion, still to be <br /> scheduled.—Bobbie Willis <br />