New Search
on the upper end across from Marist High School. Much of the remainder of the West Bank <br />Greenway is characterized by a thin strip of riparian vegetation, with some exceptions such as a <br />slough (former gravel extraction area) north of Rasor Park. <br />Maurie Jacobs Park is within walking distance of Rasor Park (1/4 mi), and functions as both a <br />neighborhood and community park including a soccer field, two playgrounds, an exercise <br />facility, picnic area, and community garden; a large parking lot provides a major staging area and <br />access to the Willamette Greenway and West Bank Bikepath. <br />Due to rapid growth and infilling, there are a number of areas unserved by parks in the River <br />Road Park Planning District. The City plans to extend neighborhood park coverage to these areas <br />as is practicable. <br />Site Analysis <br />A number of qualities make Rasor Park a distinctive open space area including its views, <br />openness, existing vegetation and neighborhood plantings, bird habitat, and its location and <br />relationship to the river, greenway, and bikepath. Rasor Park also has exceptional potential for <br />environmental education and interpretation, as well as demonstration projects that foster clean <br />water and salmon recovery. In this sense, the park has value not only to the neighborhood, but <br />also to the large community as well. <br />Perceived Community Needs <br />Public involvement and outreach efforts of this planning process indicate that the River Road <br />community places a high priority on protecting and enhancing the natural environment of Rasor <br />Park. Little support exists for neighborhood park facilities such as a traditional playground or <br />sports fields. City-wide, residents appear to have similar priorities based on a recent survey to <br />determine reasons for residents visiting Eugene parks (leisure/relaxation - 46°/0; individual <br />exercise/sports - 26°/a; natural areas/wildlife -17°/a; picnics or family/social events -16°/a; and <br />playgrounds -15. It is also noted that there is a lack of accessible, natural greenspace in the River <br />Road Park Planning District. <br />Management Capability <br />Funding continues to be an issue for park and open space development and maintenance, which <br />favors a simple, low-budget vision for the park. Volunteer support, as historically provided by <br />the Friends of Rasor Park, will continue to be a major resource to augment the City's ongoing <br />maintenance management program. <br />Conclusions <br />Applying criteria of legislative intent, park system and site analysis, perception of community <br />needs, and management capability, the preferred role and function of Rasor Park is a park node <br />on the Willamette Greenway with metropolitan-wide significance, accommodating river-related <br />and river-dependent recreation uses. Given the lack of neighborhood park facilities in the River <br />Road neighborhood and increasing density of growth and development associated with infilling, <br />the park should also support multiple use park uses that are suited to the park's physical <br />capability and suitability. <br />Rasor Park Master Plan 15 City of Eugene, Parks Planning <br />