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i <br /> <br /> 07,V0?/06 FRI 10:46 FA% 541 682 4882 ELTGENE PW MNTNC & POS PW ADMIN ~ 001 <br /> EUGI~N E <br /> Pa as and <br /> 1820 ROOSEVELT 6LYD. <br /> Ope Space "~~~~~'B1`w~~ <br /> E L E D R T I H G . OREGON 914DT <br /> Yea of Parks (541)682.4800 <br /> 190 •2006 www.EU6ENIE-0RGOV/PARKS <br /> PARKS ANO OPEN SPACE PLANNING PARKS MAINTENANCE URBAN FORESTRY NATURAL RESOURCES <br /> E'WS E LEAS E <br /> .Nuly 2006 <br /> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> Contact: C rrie Peterson, City of Eugene Park Development Coordinator at (541)682-4907 or <br /> c rrie.a. eterson ci.eu ene.or.us <br /> E ily Proudfoot, City of Eugene Project Manager at (541)682-6019 <br /> I~, K Ily Darnell, Marketing and Outreach Manager at (551) 682-4814 or 285-7803 <br /> RiverPla Di a Villa a Plo round O ns Tomorrow Ju <br /> This Saturday, to al kids will finally have a chance to get their hands on the new RiverPlay Playground. Mayor Kitty <br /> Piercy will begin a official grand opening ceremony at 12:15 p.m. vnd cut the ribbon at 12:30 p.m. allowing <br /> families to pour i to the playground. The afternoon will include live music, a free BBQ lunch, games, and much <br /> r~nore. In addition to Mayor Pierry, City Manager Dennis Taylor and Eugene Rotary Club member Judge Darryl <br /> parson will say a ew words. <br /> ~ne hundred ye rs after Eugene's first City park was established, Eugene's largest, most unique playground is <br /> ~pening in the h rt of Skinner Butte Park. Covering one acre, the RiverPlay Discovery Village Playground offers <br /> hildren the app rtunity to scale a play replica of Skinner Butte, uncover fossils at an ancient history sand dig, play <br /> with sand and w er along a miniature Willamette River, and recreate the life of the original votive habitants and <br /> ~arly seHlers of th s area at the Kalopuya and pioneer villages. <br /> the project desig team received input from hundreds of local children, parents, and people living with disabilities. <br /> ~'he playground as designed not only as a fun outdoor play area that could accommodate over 100 children, but <br /> also a place teac ers and parents could bring children of all abilities to team more about Eugene's unique natural <br /> ~nd cultural histo .Accessibility features include ramps and bridges to access the playground's centerpiece play <br /> Structure; sand a d water features which are elevated to allow easy access by smaller children as well as those in a <br /> Jvheelchair; and uditory play devices from such features as the splashing of water from the Rain Circle that will <br /> facilitate greater njoyment for people with visual disabilities_ <br /> ~eed money fro the project amounted to $780,000 from the 1998 Parks and Open Space bond measure. The <br /> ~ugene Rotary CI b stepped in to play a vital role by voluntee ~ during the de olition and <br /> .ilnstallation phas ,and by helping raise over $400,000 ~~~erPla <br /> ~rom local busine ses and granting organizations. <br /> ~Pgdvenwcel . <br /> <br />