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Controlled <br /> burn will be <br /> set at park <br /> The city of Eugene will set <br /> fire to eight acres of Alton <br /> Baker Park on Monday to <br /> wipe out blackberries and <br /> other non-native plants. <br /> Weather permitting, the <br /> controlled burn is scheduled <br /> to begin about 1 p.m. in the <br /> Whilamut Natural Area west <br /> of Interstate 5 and on the <br /> north bank of the Willamette <br /> River. <br /> North Walnut Road from <br /> Day Island Road to I-5 will be <br /> closed, but all other bicycle <br /> and pedestrian paths in that <br /> area will be open. Access to <br /> the burn area will be <br /> restricted. <br /> The Eugene Fire Depart- <br /> ment and the Parks and <br /> Open Space Division of the <br /> city's Public Works depart- <br /> ment will conduct the burn. <br /> Historically, prairies in <br /> the Willamette Valley were <br /> burned frequently by Native <br /> Americans.By reintroducing <br /> this ecological process, the <br /> city hopes to reduce weedy, <br /> exotic species, remove built- <br /> up thatch and provide an op- <br /> portunity to reseed the area <br /> with native prairie species. <br /> the Regisker-Guard <br /> Saturday ,Segtembtr 20)2003 <br />