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<br /> City of Eugene Summer Ultimate- 105 (8) Community Softball League-288 (16) <br /> <br /> ASA Girls Softball -108 (7) Latino Soccer League- 240 (12) <br /> Of these organizations, none are able to get all of the field time that they desire. Some of the <br /> organizations get use of fields for only a small percentage of their games and little or no time to <br /> practice. Because of this demand, all of the City of Eugene's natural turf sports fields are being <br /> played at 100% of their capacity, based on what we know about the fields threshold for use. <br /> Fields that are overplayed require a long recovery period of 6-12 months. This can reduce the <br /> overall field inventory by 25% during certain periods of the year. This information leads us to <br /> understand that the Eugene community is in need of additional sports fields-primarily open turf <br /> fields that can accommodate multiple sport usage. <br /> The area being considered for athletic field development <br /> the current Century baseball field and <br /> adjoining unimproved turf area-has been used as sports fields for decades. In the past 10 years, <br /> Recreation staff have discouraged use of this area due to uneven and hard ground conditions that <br /> occur at this site every summer and fall. However, because there is such a shortage of playing <br /> fields, some user groups and participants continue to use this area at the risk of injury. <br /> The Mayor's Committee identified a need for 16 new ballfields in the 1998 bond measure. <br /> However, only six new fields have been developed on City property. Four of these were done via <br /> a partnership with the Babe Ruth Baseball organization at Bethel Community Park. The two <br /> ballfields at Amazon will mean that only 8 of the 16 ballfields will be added to the City's <br /> inventory. Additionally, fields are currently out of play, and one will be completely lost in south <br /> Eugene due to the replacement of Ida Patterson Elementary School. <br /> We are working to make up the difference using a number of creative strategies, including: <br /> ¦ Renovating ballfields on existing school district property; <br /> ¦ Developing new ballfields on existing school district property; and <br /> ¦ Utilizing synthetic surface fields, also on school district property, that provide expanded play <br /> time from traditional turf fields. <br /> You have asked a number of thoughtful questions, and I hope that this begins to answer some of <br /> them. We are still in the process of developing our Comprehensive Plan for Parks, Recreation & <br /> Open Space. Until this research is complete, some of your questions will remain unanswered. I <br /> look forward to working with you as we continue the plans for Amazon Park. A notice of the <br /> next public meeting will be forthcoming. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Andrea G. Riner <br /> Parks & Open Space Planning Manager <br /> Cc: Carolyn Weiss, Project Manager <br /> Johnny Medlin, POS Division Manager <br /> Kurt Corey, PW Director <br /> Angel Jones, LRCS Director <br /> Renee Grube, Recreation Division Manager <br /> Scott Duckett, Natural Resources Manager <br /> Mayor Torrey and Eugene City Councilors <br /> <br />