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CHAPTER Itl <br />Significant Public Involvement Findings <br />^ Most people who participated in public outreach activities for the <br />Comprehensive Plan believe that parks, recreation services, and <br />natural areas are important to Eugene's quality of life.. For <br />example, more than 94% of Community Survey participants and <br />99% of Speakers Bureau participants indicated that parks, <br />recreation, and natural areas are very important or important to <br />Eugene's quality of life; <br />• Stakeholders in Eugene interviewed during the planning process <br />recognized the need to expand parks and natural areas to keep up <br />with population growth and to ensure that all residents have <br />adequate access. <br />^ Eugene residents prefer a diverse park system that provides a <br />balance of active and natural area parks. When asked about the <br />right proportion of parks for Eugene, more than half (52%) of <br />Community Survey respondents said there should be an equal <br />distribution of natural areas and active parks. <br />• Eugene has a high level of program participation. Well over half <br />(57%) of Community Survey respondents participated in a City of <br />Eugene recreation program or special event within the year prior <br />to the survey. This is much higher than most communities, where <br />program participation averages about 30% of the population. <br />• Community members think that more recreation programs should <br />be offered. About bl ~° of Community Survey respondents and <br />more than 75% of Speakers Bureau questionnaire respondents said <br />that recreation programs should be increased. Community <br />members also wanted the City of Eugene to continue in its role as <br />the primary provider of these recreation services. <br />^ The demographic analysis conducted for the PROS <br />Comprehensive Plan indicated that Eugene is increasing in <br />diversity. For example, the Hispanic population in Eugene more <br />than doubled during the 1990s, and more residents identified <br />themselves as Native American in 2000 than in 1990. The analysis <br />also indicated that programs and facilities need to be responsive <br />to a changing customer base by providing more programs that <br />meet the needs of people from diverse cultures, providing staff <br />training in understanding diversity, and developing a more diverse. <br />workforce. <br />~ ..~~~~ <br />~ __. <br />~„ ~:. <br />. -y r ' <br />~ _ <br />1 <br />.j <br />r~~ <br />.. <br />" City of Eugene PROS Comprehensive Plan l9 <br />Draft <br />