Boat Parade Planned for Grand Opening of New Boat Launch in Alton Baker Park

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i 05/16? a FRI 12:40 AX 541 682 4882 EUGENE PFP MNTNC & POS PW ADMIN [~Jddl allay 16, 2003 ONTACT: John Webe ,parks planner, City of Eugene, 6$2-4908 • Therese Pi do, public information specialist, Parks and Open Space, 682-4814 I. Jenica Tan enholz, event assistant, 682-4$00 FOR IMMEDI E RELEASE BOAT PARA~ PLANNED FOR GRAND OPENING OF NEW BOAT LAUNCH IN ALTON BAKER PAR Bring y ur non-motorized craft and plan on floating the Willamette River for the inaugural boat parade to dedicate the new Alton Baker Park boat launch Saturday, May 31. The dedication will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the boat parade at 11:30 a.m. All non-motorized craft are wel me to participate. Participants are asked to have their craft in the water by 11 a.m. Admiral ike FischnaAer of the Rotary Duck Navy will lead the flotilla, and a shuttle service will be availa a from the Valley River Center parking lot. The boat launch is located off of Day Island Road, cross from the Cuthbert Amphitheater. The vi ion for a new boat launch in the park was first conceived in 1997 in the West Alton Baker ark plan, after an informal gravel launch was discontinued in the eastern section ~ of the park in 1996 and the local boating community lobbied for a replacement. The vision became a re City when voters approved a $25.3 million parks and open space bond measure in 1998. Const ction began last summer, and the launch opened for public use in late November aoo2. The ew facility features parking for 12 boat trailers, landscaping native to the riparian or river habi t, and safety features at the crossing between the bike path and the road, such as two post lig ts, stop signs for vehicular traffic, and caution signs for bicyclists and pedestrians on the bike ath. The edication coincides with the beginning of the fishing and boating season. City parks staff re hoping that the festivities-and the boat launch--encourage residents to take advantage f the many recreational opportunities the river has to offer. "We are very fortunate to have su a beautiful river flow through our community," says Parks Planner Jahn Weber. 'This acre s to the river is long overdue for our community, and we're hoping that it helps people get o know the river as a recreational asset." For more information about the boat parade, call 684-7747. For more information about vendor dis lays at the event, calf 682-4800.