City & Government, Creswell

Council talks more park options

An opportunity for the implementation of another Creswell park has bubbled to the surface.
City council last week discussed a possible land donation to the City, after resident Sheila Hale contacted the City about her property – over 50 acres located on Creswell Butte.
The area encompasses the peak of the butte and can be accessed from Highway 99, City Administrator Michelle Amberg said.
City Planner Maddie Phillips reportedly met with McKenzie Trust and others in Eugene to see how they manage similar park spaces, like Skinner Butte.
City staff is still undergoing research to see what managing this type of property may entail.
As for other parks, work can begin at anytime at Cinderella Park, located at Cloverdale and Dale Kuni roads. Amberg said that $5,800 has been set aside for improvements on that 56.1-acred land.
As for the 2nd Street park property, the purchasing process is still underway.
In April, council gave the City an OK to purchase 41,000 square feet of land from New Hope Baptist Church at 597 S. Front St., with intentions to turn the western vacant area behind the church building along South 2nd Street into a park.
The 2nd Street Park property is in the process of being parcelled out at the County, Amberg said. As soon as county records it, then can move forward and purchase the property.
Amberg said that process may take until November or December, but once that happens, they will be able to finalize the purchase quickly.
With all this parkspeak, Councilor Martha McReynolds Jr. said she envisions a trail system to people from park to park.
Throughout the city of Creswell, there are currently five total parks, averaging 36.76 total acres – 33 of which are comprised of Garden Lake Park on Melton Road.
If the City were to take on Cinderella Park as well as the Hale butte property, that would be a total of 100 additional acres of parkland to maintain. Council discussed what other financial demands that much additional land may require, including maintenance and staff time.
The other Creswell parks are Harry Holt Park at 4th and 5th streets, the downtown pocket park on South 1st Street, and two special use parks at the Cobalt Activity Center, 364 Cobalt Lane and at the Creswell Community Center, 99 S. 1st St.
The Parks and Tree Committee is still working towards finalizing the Parks Master Plan draft document. The next meeting of the Parks and Tree Committee is Sept. 25.
The next city council meeting is Monday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m., located at City Hall. The public is encouraged to attend.


CORRECTION — In an article in the Sept. 6 edition regarding the possibility of more parkspace in town, Cinderella Park was misidentified. The park on Dale Kuni and Cloverdale roads is a small parcel, it is not Cinderella Park as stated in the article. The property is only a half-acre. Development of the county-owned property is far in the future. The Chronicle regrets this error and strives for accuracy. See something incorrect? Email Erin at [email protected] and we’ll make it right.

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