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EUGENE <br /> May 27, 2003 <br /> CONTACT: <br /> • John Weber, parks planner, City of Eugene, 682-4908 <br /> • Therese Picado, public information specialist, Parks and Open Space, 682-4814 <br /> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> NEW BOAT LAUNCH IN ALTON BAKER PARK TO BE DEDICATED THIS SATURDAY <br /> WITH AN INAUGURAL BOAT PARADE AND CELEBRATION <br /> The new boat launch at Alton Baker Park will be dedicated this Saturday, May 31, with <br /> an inaugural non-motorized boat parade and celebration. The dedication will begin at 11 a.m. <br /> with remarks from City Manager Dennis Taylor and former City Manager Jim Johnson, <br /> representatives from McKenzie Fly Fishers and Northwest Steelheaders, and others. The boat <br /> parade will follow the presentations at 11:30 a.m. All non-motorized craft are welcome to <br /> participate. Participants are asked to have their craft in the water by 11 a.m. and to follow <br /> standard water safety guidelines and be sure that all passengers wear life jackets and each <br /> boat is equipped with a whistle. Admiral Mike Fischnaller of the Rotary Duck Navy will lead the <br /> flotilla, and a shuttle service will be available from the Valley River Center parking lot. <br /> Refreshments will be served and local boating and fishing vendors and other groups, including <br /> GI Joes, Oregon River Sports, Cascade Canoe Club, Lane County Search and Rescue, City of <br /> Eugene River House, and UO Outdoor Program, will have booths on display at the boat launch. <br /> The boat launch is located off of Day Island Road, across from the Cuthbert Amphitheater. <br /> The vision for a new boat launch in the park was first conceived in 1997 in the West <br /> Alton Baker Park plan, after an informal gravel launch was discontinued in the eastern section of <br /> the park in 1996 and the local boating community lobbied for a replacement. The vision became <br /> a reality when voters approved a $25.3 million parks and open space bond measure in 1998. <br /> Construction began last summer, and the launch opened for public use in late November 2002. <br /> The new facility features parking for 12 boat trailers, landscaping native to the riparian or <br /> river habitat, and safety features at the crossing between the bike path and the road, such as <br /> two post lights, stop signs for vehicular traffic, and caution signs for bicyclists and pedestrians <br /> on the bike path. <br />