Future Plans
Planning and Development
For information about future plans,
contact our Planning and Development Department at 541-736-4544
or e-mail Greg Hyde at gregh@willamalane.org.
20-Year Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan
Willamalane is updating its 20-year Comprehensive Plan for parks, open spaces and recreation.
Willamalane's Comprehensive Plan was last updated in 2004. In the past seven 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 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; and
• A new multi-use 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 Comp Plan to better meet the needs and desires of the community. The first step is to identify these needs and generate priorities within the district.
What else is happening with the 20-year plan?
Willamalane planners recently completed the Community Needs Assessment portion of the Comprehensive Plan. The Community Needs Assessment identifies what the community needs and wants in terms of parks, open space, recreation facilities and programs. The report synthesizes the results of:
• Community involvement activities,
• Park and facilities analysis,
• Recreation services analysis, and
• Management and operations analysis.
Community involvement activities resulted in over 2,000 participants in the Community Needs Assessment. Community members provided input through the following methods and events:
• Springfield SummerFest: 316 participants completed a questionnaire and over 600 children voted for their favorite activity at the two-day festival last July.
• Community Survey: 1,060 participants completed online and printed surveys in September and October.
• Spanish-language Community Survey: 31 participants completed a Spanish-language version of our online and printed survey in September and October.
• Teen Workshops: 77 participants from Springfield and Thurston High Schools participated in three workshops and completed our community survey in January.
Ten lucky respondents to the Community Survey and one from the SummerFest Questionnaire were awarded gift cards for participation in the survey.
Results of the community involvement activities and other Community Needs Assessment findings are currently being incorporated into the development of strategies and actions for the Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan. These strategies and actions will guide Willamalane for the next 20 years.
You can read the Community Needs Assessment report here. Thanks to all who participated!
If you would like to be added to our mailing list, or have questions about the Comprehensive Plan update, contact rebeccag@willamalane.org.
Want to take a look at the 2004 plan?
All documents are in PDF format and will open in a new window.
• Forward
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Introduction: Provides background on the district’s planning process,
Community Needs Assessment and report organization. Also contains
a map showing the district’s planning area.
Map 1: Planning Sub Areas
CHAPTER 2: VISION
Chapter
2: Discusses Willamalane’s core values, vision, mission, goals
and strategy categories.
CHAPTER 3: HIGHLIGHTS OF IMPROVEMENTS
Chapter
3: Illustrates key strategies in the Plan by highlighting improvements,
many of which will take place in the first two phases of Plan implementation.
CHAPTER 4: STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS
Chapter
4: Describes strategies and actions for enhancing parks, open
space, recreation facilities and programs in Springfield over the
next 20 years. Also contains two maps showing the geographic distribution
of major projects included in the Plan.
Map 2: Existing and Proposed Recreation Resources
Map 3: Existing and Proposed Multi-Use Paths and Bikeways
CHAPTER 5: CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND OPERATIONS PLAN
Chapter
5: Provides an overview of the financing strategy for implementation
of Willamalane’s Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan.
CHAPTER 6: PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Chapter
6: Outlines performance measures that will be developed to
evaluate Plan implementation.
APPENDIX A: COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Summarizes the findings of the environmental scan conducted in 2002
for the Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan. Key findings are
presented and synthesized to show what the community needs and wants
in terms of parks, open space, facilities and programs. Also includes
four maps and two tables.
Map 4: Existing Park and Recreation Resources
Map 5: Neighborhood Park Service Areas
Map 6: Community Park Service Areas
Map 7: Natural Opportunity Areas
Table A-16: Parkland Standards and Anticipated Need
Table A-17: Recreation Facility Standards and Anticipated Need
APPENDIX B: OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE IMPACT
Analysis:
One spreadsheet showing operations and maintenance cost details used
in Chapter 5.
APPENDIX C: PARK AND FACILITY CLASSIFICATIONS
Definitions:
One spreadsheet describing classifications and definitions for Willamalane’s
current and future parks and recreation facilities.
APPENDIX D: PARK AND FACILITY INVENTORY
Two spreadsheets of Willamalane and School District 19 resources.
Appendix D1: Park and Facility Inventory - District Resources
Appendix D2: Park and Facility Inventory - School District and Other Providers
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
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 walking and cycling path travels from Clearwater Park west to Quarry Butte. 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. Construction of Phase 2a is estimated to begin in 2012.
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.
View a map of the path
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
Fees are assessed on new development
Their purpose is to fund all or a portion of capital facilities needed for growth, and to shift the burden of growth costs from current residents to new development.
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.
Documents detailing the new methodology and rates are available below.
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.
• 2011 SDC Fact Sheet and Worksheet
• SDC Methodology Implementing Resolution