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(6) Ensuring safe and convenient access to recreation lands and facilities; and <br />~~ ~l <br />(7) Maintaining, remodeling and upgrading park, recreational and cultural <br />facilities in order torespond to changing uses as well as attaining and <br />preserving operational efficiency. <br />E. Irwin Park Background: <br />1967: The City purchased land concurrent with the subdivision of Sandy's Plat in west <br />Eugene north of Barger Drive. The land remained undeveloped. <br />1974: The City of Eugene expanded park acreage through the purchase of additional <br />land. The City also purchased to two residential lots on East and West Irwin <br />Drive, respectively, to serve as neighborhood pedestrian and bicycle connectors. <br />1983: After many years as an undeveloped site, neighbors expressed interest in park <br />improvements, in part to trigger an upgrade in the maintenance status of the park. <br />A neighborhood meeting was held to gather input on a concept plan. A concept <br />plan was developed that included a walking path; irrigation, benches, lights, a <br />playground and ahalf--court basketball court. <br />1983: A Conditional Use Permit was prepared and approved for the concept plan. <br />1990-: The City.. sold the two "surplus" parcels of land on East and West Irwin way to <br />fund improvements to the park. Park improvements constructed around this time <br />include ahalf--court basketball court, playground equipment, and an informal <br />gravel parking lot. Following the sale of the surplus lots, the final, contiguous <br />acreage for Irwin Park is <br />1994-: At the request of neighbors, additional improvements were added to the park, <br />including a baseball diamond backstop, two streetlight-style lights ,a drinking <br />fountain, park rules signs and log barriers to keep cars out of the park. <br />1998: The Parks and Open Space bond measure is passed by Eugene voters, allocating <br />$470,000 to improvements in Irwin Park. <br />F. The Irwin Park Concept Plan was developed through a public involvement and <br />research process from May 1999 through September 1999. <br />G. City of Eugene Parks Planning staff hosted and facilitated two public workshops <br />for the design of the concept plan on May 20, 1999 and September 14, 1999, <br />respectively A third public input session was held on October 4, 1999 at the <br />regularly scheduled neighborhood association meeting to discuss and comment on <br />the fmal plan. A youth focus group was also held in the park on June 29, 1999 to <br />seek input on park design from youth and children currently using the park. <br />