In the July 2005 meeting, WUN was promised that the decorative brick work in the City-retained <br /> portion of the West University Park would be preserved as much as possible. Now we have <br /> learned the entire park is to be demolished with the exception of a small strip of brick in the <br /> public right-of-way, otherwise known as the sidewalk. There is currently over 2,000 square feet <br /> of decorative brick paving in West University Park, 80% slated for removal. We were also <br /> assured that the existing wrought iron fencing, light fixtures, and the bronze sundial would be <br /> salvaged and re-used. As a result of current mismanagement by the Parks Department, the bronze <br /> sundial has been permanently damaged (all exposed components were sawed off and likely sold <br /> for scrap) and the poles with the light fixtures have been cut, leaving the fixtures on the ground <br /> to be vandalized. <br /> Here's what we propose: <br /> 1. The demolition of the decorative brick work and planters be immediately halted. <br /> 2. No further trees be cut down in the part of the park retained by the city. <br /> 3. A series of public discussions be held to determine a reasonable approach to an initial <br /> plan of park development. <br /> 4. The neighborhood association will clean the existing planter areas with volunteer time to <br /> avoid vacant lot syndrome in the area we wish to preserve. <br /> 5. A neighborhood donor has agreed to supply bark mulch and the neighborhood association <br /> will fill the cleaned planting areas with the bark mulch. <br /> We would like to work with the Parks Department and the City of Eugene in a positive way to <br /> resolve this issue. We do want a park, but we want it to be our park. <br /> You can contact WUN through Deborah Healey, Vice-Chairperson of WUN, at 683-7454 or via <br /> email at healeyd@onid.orst.edu. <br /> This letter was approved unanimously on August 3, 2006 by the WUN Executive Board: <br /> Drix Rixmann, Deborah Healey, Steve Baker, Clark Cox, and Marie Valle <br /> West University Neighbors 2 <br />