New Community Park Offers Something From Everyone

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_ O1~!2~/04 THU 14:2 FAX 541 682 4882 EUGENE PW MNTNC & P05 PW ADMIN f~001 i Is ~O I January 29, 04 CONTACT: Carolyn Weiss, Park Planner, 682-4914 Therese M. Picado, Parks and Open Space Public Information Specialist, 682- 4814 yr 682-4800 or therese.m.aicadoCa~ci.eugene.or.us i FOR iMMED ATE RELEASE ' New Community Park Offers Something for Everyone Phas two is complete at Bethel Park, a 33-acre community park, just south of Barger Avenue be een Legacy Street and Haviture Way. In addition to a large sports field complex built by Bab Ruth Baseball in 2000 and a skate park completed in early 2003, the park now includes a n w playground, picnic shelter, basketball court, amphitheater, restroom, landscaping walkways, and fighting. Funded by the 1998 Parks and Open Space bond measure, th park is a vast expanse of green, punctuated by features that are attracting children, to ns, adults, neighbors from the growing residential communities that border the park, and even w ole classrooms from nearby Meadowview Elementary for the occasional extended ~ recess. Five year-old Abbey Kruska, who is a frequent visitor to the park with her sister, mother ~ and someti es friends, says, "it's fun, fun, fun." Her older sister, Callie, defines what her sister ~ means by " un" and describes climbing the ropes "almost to the top," making sand buns under the slide in he kid's park and serving them to her "customers," and having lunch with a friend at the top oft a "really tall, straight slide" and sliding down only after they've had a "good talk." Th brightly-colored playground features a sand and water play area, climbing waN, spinners, s ides, swings, and spring toys. But the allure of the park is not limited only to the playgroup ,says Erin Kruska, little Abbey and Callie's mother. "VNe were attracted to this neighborh because of the park," she says. "We hoped the park would attract other' young families a d raise the value of the homes in the area," According to Kruska, the park is bustling with activi on any given day. Rollerskating and riding bicycles along the many concrete paths throughou the park are popular activities, as well as skateboarding at the state-of--the-art skate park. For ose interested in a leisure walk in the park, there are also forested and other natural areas toe plore. Th park design is based on input gathered by parks staff from neighbors at a series of public wo shops in 2001 and 2002. A running trait, dog park and water spray play area are planned f r future phases, as well as restoration work in the park's ash grove and wetlands with voluntee from Meadowview Elementary. For more inforr~aftion, call 682-4914.