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Paul Beistel, 2805 University, stated that the 1986 Alton Baker Park Master Plan for the park had <br />. identified its primary goal as enhancement of recreational opportunities for. metropolitan area residents <br />and. its secondary goal; as preservation of open space and wildlife habitat. He said the" 1995 East Alton. <br />Baker Park Plan emphasized.the secondary-goal and separated he park into natural habitat and public <br />recreation zones.. He said he believed. vegetation in -the western zone of the park should incorporate. <br />non-native species developed for urban areas. He pointed out that a park master plan needed to <br />accommodate a significant increase in population of the area. He said the western zone of the park <br />..should be judged by the primary goal of the park and not have,. criteria developed for the eastern zone <br />applied to it. He expressed his. opinion that East Alton Baker serves nature and that West Alton Baker <br />should serve people. <br />Beth Stein, 2436 Nixon Street, stated that she represented Nearby Nature. She expressed appreciation <br />for the effort exerted in development: of the park design plan. She said the members and staff of her <br />organization unanimously endorsed the current plan. She expressed concern that the proposed new <br />emergency road not be available as a 'regular access route for vehicles, that an over-abundance of <br />.parking was planned, that the new location for the dog leash-free area could impact areas set aside for <br />wildlife preservation. She said she supported the concept of a cultural garden, but expressed a-concern <br />that its. boundary not extend into riparian areas. She suggested that language be incorporated into the <br />plan which would indicate that incursion of a -new river crossing bridge over the Willamette River <br />.would not be permitted in the park. She said she, believed that. the proposed path jusf west of the <br />houses on Leisure Lane mightbe somewhat redundant, given the .pedestrian and bike route along the <br />Leisure Lane alignment, and would prefer to see emphasis put on the Leisure Lane route. - <br />Junior Robertson, Post Office 10952, said he believed natural areas had value and did not distinguish <br />between the recreational needs of humans and the needs of wildlife. He said he was generally happy <br />with the proposed plan, but shared the concerns of Ms. Stein regarding new access paths and dog <br />leash-free areas. <br />Beth Stein, 2436 Nixon Street, stated that, many native'plants had been developed for ornamental park <br />uses. She said the advantages,of suchplants were that they' required less irrigation and were less. <br />expensive to maintain. <br />Tex Matsler, 2645 Chula Vista Drive, stated that he agreed with the assertion of Mr. Beistel that plan <br />designs were incorrectly dividing Alton Baker Park into two zones. He said he supported the proposed <br />plan design but that he was concerned that, by concentrating on the western area of the .park, it ignored <br />valuable riverfront areas. He pointed out that most eastern areas of the park were not in a natural state <br />since they had-been disturbed by agricultural use, gravel mining excavation, and use as a municipal <br />dump. He said that without a general plan of the entire park, it was impossible to make plans for- <br />specific areas. He recommended that public input. regarding park design be sought from a broad range <br />of citizen interests. <br />Meg Trendier, 2300 Leo Harris Parkway, ,stated that she appreciated adjustments to the park design <br />plan made since the previous public meeting. She expressed support. for providing additional proposed <br />development--connection of new areas over the existing canal, good signage for all paths, a bus <br />MINUTES--West Alton Baker Park June 4, 1997 Page 2 <br />Public Hearing <br />