New Native Plant Garden Unveiled Saturday at Hendricks Park

New Search

i t M - _ _ May 2, 20 2 i CONTAC Th rese Picado, City of Eugene Parks and Open Space Division, 682-4814 Jer Blakely, Native Plant Garden, 343-3728 . Mi ael Robert, Hendricks Park Head Gardener, 682-5324 FOR IMM DIATE RELEASE NE NATIVE PLANT GARDEN UNVEILED SATURDAY AT HENDRICKS PARK The ne Hendricks Park Native Plant Garden will be dedicated at a ceremony on Saturday, ~ May 4, at 1 p.m. The event, sponsored by the City of Eugene Parks and Open Space Division, will take pl ce at the F. M. Wilkins Shelter at 2200 Summit Avenue. Featured speakers include j Eugene M yor Jim Torrey, City Councilor David Kelly, noted Los Angeles landscape architect Jin Chen, ho designed the native plant garden, Jerry Blakely, who helped organize community support for the garden, and representatives from the newly formed Friends of Hendricks Park. Creatin a native plant garden was one of the top action priorities that emerged from the Hendricks ark Forest Management Plan, adopted by the Eugene City Council in January j 2000. Dev loped with the help of ecosystem experts and focal citizens, the plan outlines a long- s term vision for Hendricks Park, including a garden that showcases the variety and horticultural uses of pla is native to the southern Willamette Valley. This vis on is becoming a reality through a partnership between the City of Eugene and private citiz ns. Last year, Jerry Blakely decided to help fund a native plant garden as a living memorial t his wife who was dying of cancer. A fund was established with the Oregon Community Foundation, enabling the community to match City funds, and work has begun on the garden. "Throu h this project we hope to increase public support and interest in Hendricks Park and ~ demonstrat what can be accomplished in a community through public/private partnership," says Blakel . For mor information about the native plant garden, call 343-3728 or visit the Hendricks Park webp ge at www.ci.eugene.or.us/PW/parks/hendricks.