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CHAPTER Itl <br />.~.~,. <br />~. ~ <br />4L.- "'. <br />~` <br />~~ <br />~rt.~ ~#;.`~r <br />~._ <br />ri :~ a Yn- <br />~. <br />k <br />.~.. ,:,._ ~~, _ , . ,,.r <br />Through youth <br />development, <br />Eugene will create a <br />better future <br />Significant Public Involvement Findings <br />^ Participants in the Recreation and Social Service Provider Focus <br />Group noted that there was a lack of meaningful programs and <br />services for teens, such as community service opportunities. <br />^ Open Space focus group participants identified that expanded <br />volunteer opportunities should be provided for habitat and <br />natural resource enhancement activities, and that these <br />opportunities should include education. <br />^ Open Space focus group participants identified a need for more <br />opportunities for youth involvement in natural resources. <br />^ Maintenance Staff focus group participants noted the value of <br />volunteers in parks, who could assist with park clean-up, invasive <br />species removal, and enforcement of park rules (such as <br />reminding people to clean up after dogs). <br />F. Youth Development <br />Youth development is a high priority for the Eugene community. The <br />City has focused its recreation programming in recent years to <br />concentrate on youth. In addition, the City has used two local option <br />levies to help fund recreation services for youth. Measure 20-37 <br />resulted in more than $700,000 per year for neighborhood-based <br />youth activities during non-school hours. The levy expired at the end <br />of December 2003. Measure 20-67 is a four-year local option levy <br />passed in November 2002 that provides funding for City youth services <br />such as Summer Fun For All, in addition to providing funding to the two <br />school districts for youth activities and resources.. <br />Between 1990 and 2000, the population under 18 years of age in <br />Eugene increased 17 percent. In Eugene, youth, especially teens, are <br />the highest priority for increased services, according to results of the <br />extensive Comprehensive Plan public involvement process. In <br />addition, promoting youth development was one of the most <br />important benefits of parks and recreation cited by community <br />members during Comprehensive Plan public outreach activities. The <br />City has already begun to strengthen youth programming by forming <br />partnerships with many recreation and social service providers to <br />implement the local option levy programs and activities. All of these <br />efforts underscore the commitment of our community to youth. These <br />efforts will continue and will be expanded with the implementation of <br />the Comprehensive Plan. <br />Recently, the City has begun to focus its programming efforts on <br />fostering the development of the assets or skills that youth need in <br />order to become contributing and successful community members. <br />This approach, first developed by the Search Institute, has been <br />26 ' City of Eugene PROS Comprehensive Plan <br />Draft <br />