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06~29l06 THU 1 :39 FAX 541 682 4882 EUGENE PW MNTNC & POS P1~' ADMIN [x}001 <br /> E G E N E <br /> P rkS and ~~~,~~w~~ <br /> <br /> ~ Op n Space <br /> lay 11005EYElT a~~. <br /> E 0 R A: ~ N G ~USE~1E, QI« 97{Qy <br /> Ye s of Parks F~ i~iii 6ei-~,e~ez <br /> 19 6 2006 IYW1I?.EUGENFflRGOV/PAKl6 <br /> PARKS AND OPEN SPACE PLANNING PARKS MAINTENANCE URBAN FORESTRY NATURAL RESOURCES <br /> 'NEWS ELEASE <br /> dune 29, 2006 <br /> FOR IMMEDIAT RELEASE <br /> Contact: orrie Reterson, City of Eugene Park Development Coordinator at (541)682-4907 or <br /> c rrie.a. eterson ci.eu ene.or.us <br /> R bin Hostick, City of Eugene Principal Landscape Architect at (541)682-4915, 954-1546, or <br /> r bin.a.hostick i.eu ene.or.us <br /> ' erPl Dis ve Villa e P a round Grand enin ul 81 <br /> r The much-anticip tea Grand Opening of Eugene's first "destination" playground is finally here. The City of Eugene <br /> and the Eugene R Lary Club invite community members to help celebrate with an afternoon of ribbon cutfiing, <br /> dedications, live usic, free BBQ, games and much more on Saturday, July $ from noon to 4 p.m. <br /> One hundred yea after Eugene's first City park was established, Eugene's largest, most unique playground is <br /> opening in the he rt of Skinner Butte Park. Covering one acre, the RiverPlay Discovery Village Playground offers <br /> children the oppo unity to scale a ploy replica of Skinner Butte, uncover fossils at an ancient history sand dig, play <br /> with sand and wa r along a miniature Willamette River, and recreate the life of the original native habitants and <br /> early settlers of fihi urea at the Kalapuya and pioneer villages. <br /> The project design team received input from hundreds of local children, parents, and people living with disabilities. <br /> Tl~e playground w s designed not only as a fun outdoor play area that could accommodate over 100 children, but <br /> a so a place teach rs and parents could bring children of all abilities to learn mare about Eugene's unique natural <br /> a d cultural histo .Accessibility features include ramps and bridges to access the playground's centerpiece play <br /> st~ucture; sand an water features which are elevated to allow easy access by smaller children as well os those in a <br /> w eelchair; and a ditvry ploy devices from such features as the splashing of water from the Rain Circle thafi will <br /> facilitate greater a joyment for people with visual disabilities. <br /> S ed money from a project amounted to $780,000 from the 1998 Parks and Open Space bond measure. The <br /> E gene Rotary Clu stepped in to play a vital role by volunteering during the demolition and installation phase, <br /> o d by helping rot over $400,000 from local businesses and granting organizations. Community members <br /> participated by pur hosing and inscribing over 1,000 entryway bricks as part of the "One Brick at a Time" <br /> Campaign. <br /> . ~~ferPla _ . <br /> ~''9drenturel <br /> <br />