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of the park, for example near the - playground and picnic area. This may " indicate a need for greater awareness , _ , among path users, speed regulation ? N..":. features, and/or separation of bicycles and other travel modes. , 3 I. Bicycle access to the park from other areas ~ is less convenient. Bicyclists accessing the butte summit have reported conflicts with - - car traffic on the narrow, unmarked roads. Among the least convenient of access routes is from downtown, where no clear avenue exists to the park, Visitors wishing to enter the park from downtown must find their way around the railroad tracks to the east or west, then continue relatively long The connection from Skinner distances through neighborhood areas Willamette Street as the main north-south ButreFarktowinametre before entering the park. There is also a axis between the summit of Skinner Butte street, shown here, was lack of adequate bike racks and bicycle- and Spencer Butte, there have been several originally intended as the oriented si na a in the ark. official attempts to implement a safe main entrance to the park. ~ j - g g p pedestrian avenue along this historic, The access is currently cut off by parking lots and railroad Pedestrian Access clearly intuitive route. Although this route tracks. Pedestrian access to Skinner Butte Park is is still used, as evidenced bytheworn paths generally adequate where bicycle access and recurring damage to fences, it is is also convenient. The South Bank Trail currently unsafe and generally discouraged and the Washington Street connection by the railroad and other property owners. through Washington Jefferson Park are the Developing this path remains the single a j most easily accessible pedestrian entry most important opportunity for connecting downtown Eugene with Skinner Butte Park. points. ~-s There is, however, no clear pedestrian An extensive network of trails exists on the ~ ; connection from downtown to the park. butte and along the river bank that provide pedestrian access to the butte summit and ; Historically, an unofficial pedestrian access through various natural areas. Although - route has existed from the north end of Willamette Street, across the railroad tracks these trails are used frequently, they are and the recently developed parking lot north generally in very poor condition. Packed of the tracks, to the trail access point near dirt surfaces become muddy in the winter the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House. and are proneto erosion, and several main j Since the city was laid out in the 1850s, with trail routes developed by the CCC in the 193 s have also been severely worn. Due I ~ to both poor trail conditions and lack of trail ~ ' Many pedestrians use Lincoln Street to access the signs, many cutoffs exist that denude native Skinner Butte Park park in the absenceofagoodalternative VegetatlOn, cause compaction and needsabetter ~ exacerbate erosion. Many unofficial trails connection #o also exist throughout natural areas on the downtown butte and along the river that are frequented primarily by homeless and illegal campers. ~ Currently, many reportfeeling unsafe when ' using the trail system. It is likely that the ` lack of signage, poor trail conditions, overgrowth of invasive vegetation and g P g ~ ne ative use atterns to ether contribute to an unsafe feeling in areas of the trail , system. i 44 Chapter 3: Inventory and Assessment