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• <br /> • <br /> Works Maintenance Director Jeff Lankston at 682-4800. f " ,, <br /> tqr 4' i..• <br /> moi. <br /> Fairmount Neighbors Help Park Go Native :' 9 <br /> =airmount Park is sporting a more native look, thanks to ° <br /> a community effort to remove invasive ivy and replant '. <br /> the area with native vegetation. Surrounding neighbors I_,, ► <br /> are working with Parks and Open Space staff to make <br /> the small park near the intersection of 15th and <br /> Fairmount a more integral part of the community. <br /> The roots of the project began last winter when park ► ' " <br /> neighbors contacted Volunteers in Parks Coordinator <br /> Chris Girard to discuss the possibility of organizing a UO Kappa Sigma fraternity members wage a tug of war with <br /> Pairmniint Park <br /> concerted campaign to remove the invasive ivy in the <br /> park. Girard responded by organizing a work party in which members of the University of Oregon Kappa Sigma fraternity <br /> removed 15 yards of ivy along the park's fence line. <br /> The momentum grew in late spring when parks staff helped neighbors replace that ivy with native plants in the bed along <br /> the south border of the park. The landscape crew worked along side volunteers cutting sod, hauling planting soil and <br /> planting approximately 130 native plants, donated by Stream Team and cultivated in the program's volunteer-run Native <br /> Plant Nursery. "It's great that the neighbors are stepping forward to show their support of the park and trying to revitalize <br /> it," says Girard. "You couldn't ask for a better situation than neighbors organizing their own work party." <br /> The neighborhood group recently applied for a Neighborhood Matching Grant to continue to improve the park. Future <br /> plans include a compost bin and educational program about composting for the community, information kiosk and <br /> additional native landscaping in the east university area. For more information about the project, call Girard at 682-4845 <br /> or Landscape and Medians Lead Worker Houston Sheppard at 682-4825. For more information about the Neighborhood <br /> Matching Grant program, call program coordinator Beth Bridges at 682-5272. <br /> Parks, Recreation & Open Space Comprehensive Plan Reaches Major Landmark <br /> r.Nearly 3,000 people have participated in the first phase of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Comprehensive Plan. <br /> Through approximately six focus groups, 60 presentations to community and neighborhood organizations, a community <br /> survey of over 400 residents, youth questionnaires from close to 650 young people, several public forums, stakeholder <br /> interviews with 12 community leaders, and a survey of 21 organized sports providers, a wide cross section of Eugene <br /> residents came out in force the last nine months to give their input about what they want from their community's parks, <br /> recreation and open space services in the next 20 years. With the help of a consultant and mayor's committee <br /> comprised of 13 community members representing diverse sectors in the community, City Parks and Open Space and <br /> Recreation staff have collated the results of this mammoth outreach effort. The preliminary top three priorities that have <br /> emerged through this process include: <br /> • improve existing parks, recreation, and open space areas <br /> • acquire land and develop new parks and natural areas <br /> • provide additional recreation facilities and programs <br /> All the community surveys were distributed by Active 20-30 Club as a community service project. Based on experience <br /> with other communities, the project consultant reports that Eugene residents' involvement has been extensive. Parks <br /> Planning team member Carrie Peterson says the vast majority of people she talked to were extremely interested and <br /> receptive. "We tried to have as many one-on-one conversations with residents as possible, which in some cases <br /> involved going door to door. This project was as much about receiving data as getting the word out about what we're <br /> doing." <br /> The next phase of the project involves creating a draft implementation strategy and getting feedback from the community <br /> once again. The outreach of this process is expected to begin this fall. More detailed information is available through <br /> Peterson in Parks and Open Space at 682-4907 and the comprehensive plan website at <br /> www.ci.eugene.orus/pw/parks/pros/pros home.htm. <br /> EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 <br />