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- - I , ~i Natural R@SOUI'Ce Education Skinner Butte Park, although it contains s ~ Many historic precedents point to the role significant natural resources, is of Skinner Butte Park as a passive appropriately classified as a metropolitan recreation resource (see Chapter 2, `A Brief park for its diversity of unique values, History of Skinner Butte Park"). Previous including social values and history, that ~ planning and policy for the park, as would be too restricted by a purely natural evidenced by the 1969 Metropolitan Civic resource classification. Furthermore, since Club survey and master planning effort, Hendricks Park, a once popular destination supports this idea and underscores the for large groups and events, has officially tremendous value of the park's natural adopted a policy of reduced visitor impact resources around the butte and the river. to protect its natural resources, the need In recognition of this value, the theme of for suitable sites for these activities is passive recreation has increased in displaced to other areas in the park system, It is important for the popularity over the years as the orto private developments offering asimilar identity and social ~ community's recreational preferences have function. framework of the begun to edge towards a more balanced, community to resource-based approach. Community Skinner Butte Park provides a number of su ort Skinner input for the development of this master areas, including the "park core" area ~ Butte Park as a ~ ' plan clearly shows a continuation of this around the existing playground, the social center ' trend. Campbell Senior Center, the currently r undeveloped west end, and the summit of Although Skinner Butte Park's prominence Skinner Butte, that are highly suitable to and location demand a certain level of large group social functions. The toleranceto human impactin natural areas, improvement of these areas to it is not adequately directed or minimized accommodate- the expected increase in by the current condition of access routes need and capacitywill be importantto both and trails (see Chapter 3, "Current adequately and comfortably support this ' Condition"). It is important to recognize function, but also to focus the activity in that the park's natural resources have those areas and away from more sensitive tremendous potential to play a central role natural resources. It is important for the in education of the community. identity and social framework of the ' Supporting this role in the park, however, community that this role as a social center 1 while protecting the existing resources will be preserved and actively supported within require a thoughtful and creative approach. the park. ~ 1: Social Center ' The park has historically served first and The summit overlook area is foremost as a community focus for an importantfocalpointfor individuals, families and groups throughout the community the metropolitan area for social recreation, perspective, relaxation and enjoyment of the natural environment of the butte and river. As noted in the Hendricks Park Forest Management Plan, the National Recreation and Park Association puts forth recommendations for park classifications that expand upon those currently used by ~ urw~~ . ~ ~ the City of Eugene. Specifically, a ~ classification for natural resource areas, ~ / preserves and open space is deemed more t appropriate for areas with high natural G ~ resource values. A metropolitan park is f .~r ~!~N ~ defined in broader terms as offering a `wide variety" of park and recreation functions r serving the entire metropolitan area. ~ ~~'i'`~ 48 Chapter 4: Current Use, Policy and Management -