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DATE: August 4, 2006 SUBJECT: West University Park TO: Robin Hostick (Eugene Parks and Open Spac , Johnny Medlin ( ugene Parks and Open Space), Kurt Corey (Eugene Public Works), David uncilor), Kitty Piercy (Mayor), Steve Norris (Eugene Neighborhood Liaison), Beth Bridges (Eugene Neighborhood Liaison) CC: Eugene Register Guard, Eugene Weekly, Oregon Daily Emerald, KVAL, Neighborhood Leaders Council The Board of West University Neighbors (WUN), the neighborhood association for West University, would like to thank the Parks Department, and Eugene City Council, as well as Bob and Leslie Quinney, for helping move our park closer to reopening. It has beery 10 years since we had a park in this neighborhood, the most densely populated in Eugene. It has clearly taken a lot of work. However, we were very concerned when we heard from KVAL about the destruction of trees in the portion of the park to be retained by the city. We were even more surprised that the neighborhood association had not been contacted prior to their removal. There was a public meeting last year in July 2005 with the WUN Board, neighborhood residents, Parks representative Robin Hostick, representatives of the Eugene Police Department and the University Small Business Association, and other interested parties. At that time, we were told by Robin Hostick that WUN would be involved in the park design and its future. We felt things were been moving forward positively at that point. When we heard from KVAL that the trees were being cut down without any discussion with the neighborhood, we felt deceived and betrayed. We've since have had many email and phone conversations with a number of people, including considerable communication with Robin. We do appreciate the effort which went into making the land swap happen. Now it's time for the neighborhood to once again be involved in implementation and design of our park. Based on conversations with Robin, we understand that contractors constructing the new apartment building are donating demolition and excavation work in the existing part of the West University Park retained in city ownership. If this work had not been donated, then the city would have had to come up with money for any demolition. As part of the land swap, the Quinneys are providing $30,000 that will be used for making park improvements. The Board understands there is no other Parks money available for the West University Park until after 2010. We are also aware of small neighborhood matching grants, perhaps available later this year or early next year. Even if we receive one these grants, this is barely enough to cover rebuilding even one planter or a few park benches. Whatever development happens to the park now is how the park will look for the next five or more years. West University Neighbors 1