Future Plans
Planning and Development
For information about future plans,
contact our Planning and Development Department at 541-736-4544.
20-Year Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan
In October 2012, Willamalane completed its 20-year Comprehensive Plan for parks and recreation.
Willamalane's Comprehensive Plan was last updated in 2004. In the past eight years, Willamalane has worked to implement the plan's strategies and actions. Highlights of these efforts include:
• Renovation of the EWEB bike path
• A large playground, picnic area and dog park at Lively Park
• A new community recreation center (Willamalane Center) to replace the Memorial Building
• Three new neighborhood parks (Rob Adams, Jasper Meadows and Volunteer)
• A sports park with artificial turf soccer fields
• A new playground at Willamalane Park,
• A new walking and bicycle path along the Middle Fork of the Willamette River (under construction)
Since 2004, the Springfield area has experienced significant changes, and Willamalane is updating its Comprehensive Plan to better meet the needs and desires of the community. The first step was to identify these needs and generate priorities within the district.
Community Needs Assessment
The Community Needs Assessment identifies what the community needs and wants in terms of parks, natural areas, recreation facilities and programs. The report synthesizes the results of:
• Community involvement activities
• Park and facility analysis
• Recreation services analysis
• Management and operations analysis.
Community involvement activities resulted in more than 2,000 participants in the Community Needs Assessment. Community members provided input through the following methods and events:
• Springfield SummerFair: 316 participants completed a questionnaire and more than 600 children voted for their favorite activity at the two-day festival.
• Community survey: 1,060 participants completed online and printed surveys.
• Spanish-language community survey: 31 participants completed a Spanish-language version of our online and printed survey.
• Teen workshops: 77 participants from Springfield and Thurston High Schools participated in three workshops and completed our community survey.
You can read the Community Needs Assessment report here. Thanks to all who participated!
Strategies and Actions
Development of Strategies and Actions were a major milestone in the Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan process. The Draft Strategies and Actions were developed based primarily on the findings of the Community Needs Assessment. Since that time, staff has met with and received input from our agency partners, City of Springfield, Lane County and Springfield Public Schools, and made presentations to their elected and appointed leaders.
Staff has updated the strategies and actions from the 2004 Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan by:
• Removing projects (mainly those that have been completed since 2004)
• Adding projects (primarily based on the Community Needs Assessment findings, but also from city refinement plans, district site master plans and new opportunities)
• Revising projects (from a variety of input)
Care has also been taken to geographically balance proposed actions across the planning area as much as possible, focusing on underserved areas as identified in the Community Needs Assessment.
Capital Improvement Plan
The Draft Capital Improvement Plan consists of prioritized capital projects, cost estimates and revenue projections for the next 20 years, and is meant to provide direction on the implementation of the Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan. Once the Draft Strategies and Actions were updated, staff began work on developing the Capital Improvement Plan, which mainly consisted of (1) project prioritization, (2) development of cost estimates, and (3) revenue projections.
(1) Project prioritization was based on the findings of the Community Needs Assessment, and to a lesser extent staff and outside agency input. Care was taken to geographically balance proposed actions across the planning area, and make sure to include a variety of different types of projects in both phases of the CIP.
(2) Development of cost estimates included gathering cost data for park acquisition and development projects from comparable communities and from recent Willamalane projects. For acquisition costs specifically, staff compared real estate data from the city of Eugene, Lane Council of Governments and Trust for Public land, as well as the Regional Land Information Database. We developed a master list of park and recreation costs and then developed unit costs where feasible. Often, in developing specific project costs, unit costs were altered due to a project's unique circumstances, but unit costs were still used as the baseline for comparison purposes.
(3) Revenue projections were developed based on Willamalane's current and projected revenue. Current revenue includes the B&C Fund and SDC Fund. Revenue projections for these funds are consistent with those in the adopted five-year Capital Improvements Program (FY 2013-2017). Additional assumptions were made regarding additional grants and donations and two general obligation bonds.
Open House and Draft Plan
On June 14, Willamalane held an open house for the public to review the work to date on the Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan. Approximately 100 people attended, and 64 questionnaires were completed. It was a great event!
The Willamalane Board of Directors reviewed the Draft Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan on July 25. Staff received additional input from project partners the city of Springfield and Lane County in September and made final changes to the plan.
Plan Adoption
The Willamalane Board of Directors adopted the Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan on Oct. 10, 2012. Thanks go out to everyone who participated in the planning process, for their input and guidance over the past two years of plan development; and for helping craft a plan that represents our community and will guide us as we implement our vision for parks, natural areas and recreation services over the next 20 years.
Download the recommended draft of the Plan
Next Steps
Willamalane staff members are working with city of Springfield and Lane County to have the 20-year plan adopted as a Refinement Plan to the Eugene-Springfield Metro Area General Plan, estimated for early 2013.
Clearwater Park
Willamalane is working on a master plan for the park.
Draft Master Plan and Web Survey
If you missed the Nov. 8 public meeting, you still have an opportunity to review the presentation and draft plan diagram and take a survey to give feedback. The survey link is at the end of the presentation and it closes at the end of the day Nov. 27.
Download the Draft Master Plan
If you have trouble opening this file, email nicolea@willamalane.org
The recent meeting was the second of two public meetings to discuss the 65-acre park's master plan. The master plan process will determine how the park should be developed over the next 20 years. At the meeting, the draft plan was presented and there was a lot of participation in the group discussion and the submission of questionnaires that garnered good feedback. Public comments from the first meeting and web survey were used to help create the draft plan. For more information or to be added to the email list, contact Nicole Ankeney, landscape architect/parks planner, at 541-736-4055 or nicolea@willamalane.org.
Clearwater Park has served as a public park for over 50 years. The park has been maintained and managed by Willamalane since it was transferred to the district in 1989 by Lane County. In recent years, more people have been using the park, especially during the hot summer months, because of its good river access and proximity to the city. The popularity of the park was noted in the 2010 Clearwater Park Management Plan, which highlighted the need for a comprehensive master plan.
Several improvements have been made in recent months. The Mill Race Ecosystem Restoration Project, sponsored by the City of Springfield and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, includes a new inlet and improved access to the Springfield Mill Race, with a paved parking area and habitat restoration. Phase 1 of the Middle Fork Path project, completed in April, includes a trailhead at Clearwater Park with an interpretive kiosk, flush restroom, benches and parking lot.
View a map of the path
Clearwater Park/Middle Fork Path Management Plan
PATH PROGRESS REPORT |
Middle Fork Willamette River Path
Willamalane has completed the first phase of a path along the Middle Fork of the Willamette River.
This 10-foot-wide asphalt path winds for 2.5 miles from Clearwater Park to Quarry Butte. Construction on Phase 2a of the path, from Quarry Creek to Dorris Ranch, is under way.
The path's eastern trailhead is located at Clearwater Park, with parking for 21 vehicles, a restroom and informational kiosk. From Clearwater Park, the path travels west 2 1/2 miles through beautiful scenery, first along the new Springfield Mill Race channel and then along the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. Phase 1 of the path ends at a 70-foot pedestrian bridge spanning Quarry Creek. Path users enjoy a small picnic area just before the bridge featuring tables, a bike rack, signage and a portable restroom.
Willamalane was recently awarded a grant from ODOT's Transportation Enhancement Program that will enable construction of the next phase of the Middle Fork Path. This critical section of the path will extend it from the bridge at Quarry Creek around the butte to Dorris Ranch, where it will connect to the existing Dorris Ranch path system until funding for the final section can be secured. The path will ultimately travel through the eastern portion of Dorris Ranch and include a trailhead at the park entrance at South Second Street.
Long-range plans call for the Middle Fork Path to ultimately connect with a path along the Springfield Mill Race to downtown Springfield, creating an 8-mile loop. With brief sections of on-street bicycle lanes, the path will also connect to an extensive existing riverfront path system linking Springfield and Eugene.
To further enhance the path's regional appeal, a bridge across the river is also in long-range plans. Such a bridge would provide access to Lane County's 2,300-acre Howard Buford Recreation Area and Mount Pisgah, including 16 miles of trails within the recreation area and access to the preferred route of the Eugene to Pacific Crest Trail.
Clearwater Park/Middle Fork Path Management Plan
Dorris Ranch Master Plan Update
A Guidance Document for Twenty Years
In 2008, the Dorris Ranch Master Plan update was completed by M.I.G. with input from community members and Willamalane staff. The plan reflects the community’s and Willamalane’s vision for the unique resources, facilities and activities found at Dorris Ranch.
In conjunction with the plan update, a Natural Resource Assessment and a Facilities Condition Observation Report were also completed. You will find these two reports as appendices to the Dorris Ranch Master Plan update. All of these are available at the links below.
All documents are in PDF format and will open in a new window.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
• Dorris Ranch Land Use Plan (1979)
• Dorris Ranch Facility Development Plan (1986)
• Dorris Ranch Management Plan (2005)
DORRIS RANCH MASTER PLAN 2008
1. Cover
4. Chapter 1: Project Overview
5. Chapter 2: Site Inventory & Analysis
6. Chapter 3: Mission, Vision, & Goals
7. Chapter 4: Master Plan Narrative & Diagrams
10. Appendix B: Web Questionnaire Summary
11. Appendix C: Stakeholder Interviews Summary
12. Appendix D: Cultural and Natural Resources Workshop
13. Appendix E: Open House Summary
14. Appendix F: Project Initiation Meeting Summary
15. Appendix G: Historic Commission Meeting Summary
16. Appendix H: National Register Nomination
17. Appendix I: Natural Resource Assessment
18. Appendix J: Facility Condition Observation Report w/maps
19. Bibliography
Park and Recreation System Development Charges
Willamalane's System Development Charges, or SDCs, are one-time fees charged to new development to help pay a portion of the costs associated with building new parks and recreation facilities, in order to meet the needs created by growth. Adequate funding for growth-related park and recreation capital improvements is vital to maintaining Willamalane's level of service. In Springfield, park and recreation SDCs are collected for Willamalane by the city of Springfield at the time a building permit is issued on new residential construction.
The Oregon SDC Act requires a "methodology" for showing how SDCs are developed. Willamalane's SDC Methodology was updated in 2006, and park and recreation SDC rates were set based on this analysis. The methodology provides for annual adjustments to the SDC rates, effective at the beginning of each new calendar year.
Take a Look at the SDC Documents
Click on a link below to view the SDC documents. All documents are
in PDF format and will open in a new window.
• 2013 SDC Fact Sheet and Worksheet
• SDC Methodology Implementing Resolution
Natural Resource Areas Management Plan
Willamalane has completed a Natural Resource Areas Management Plan.
Natural resource areas make up a significant portion of the District's land base. They occur in 18 Willamalane parks and cover nearly 500 acres. We know from survey results and other public input that residents value opportunities for nature-based recreation within their local park system. This plan will help us develop a more comprehensive approach to managing these important assets. It will provide guidance for future management activities and for preparing detailed, site-specific management plans.
Click the links below to view or download sections of the plan.
• Plan
• Plan Appendices
If you would like more information, please contact Greg Hyde at 541-736-4050 or at gregh@willamalane.org.