New Search
05/28i/ 3 'f6ED 08:43 ~AX 541 682 4882 EUGENE P1~ MNTNC & POS -i-f-r rn n....___ <br /> rte. <br /> ay 27, 2003 <br /> CONTACT: <br /> John Web ,parks planner, City of Eugene, 682-4908 <br /> • Therese Pi do, public information specialist, Parks and Open Space, 682-4814 <br /> i <br /> I FOR IMMEDt TE RELEASE <br /> NEW BOAT UNCH IN ALTON BAKER PARK TO BE DEDICATED THiS SATURDAY <br /> I WITH AN IN UGURAL BOAT PARADE AND CELEBRATION <br /> I The ew boat launch at Aitan Baker Park will be dedicated this Saturday, May 31, with <br /> an inaugura non-motorized boat parade and celebration. The dedication will begin at 11 a.m. <br /> with remar from City Manager Dennis Taylor and farmer City Manager Jim Johnson, <br /> representa fives from McKenzie Fly Fishers and Northwest Steelheadars, and others. The boat <br /> parade wil follow the presentations at 11:30 a.m. Ail non-motorized craft are welcome to <br /> participat .Participants are asked to have their craft in the water by 11 a.m. and to follow <br /> standard ater safety guidelines and be sure that all passengers wear Life jackets and each <br /> boat is uipped with a whistle. Admiral Mike Fischnaller of the Rotary Duck Navy will lead the <br /> flotilla, a d a shuttle service will be available from the Valley River Center parking lot. <br /> Refresh ents will be served and local boating and fishing vendors and other groups, including <br /> GI Joe ,Oregon River Sports, Cascade Canoe Club, Lane County Search and Rescue, City of <br /> Eugen River House, and UO Outdoor Program, will have booths on display at the boat launch. <br /> i <br /> The b at launch is located off of Day island Road, across from the Cuthbert Amphitheater. <br /> The vision for a new boat launch in the park was first conceived in 1997 in the West <br /> Alton aker Park plan, after an informal gravel launch was discontinued in the eastern section of <br /> J <br /> the p rk in 1996 and the local boating community lobbied for a replacement. The vision became <br /> I <br /> <br /> I are ity when voters approved a $25.3 million parks and open space band measure in 1998, <br /> Con traction began last summer, and the launch opened for public use in late November 2002. <br /> The new facility features parking far 12 boat trailers, landscaping native to the riparian or <br /> rive habitat, and safety features at the crossing between the bike path and the road, such as <br /> tw post lights, stop signs for vehicular traffic, and caution signs far bicyclists and pedestrians <br /> on he bike path. <br /> <br />