A letter from Carolyn Chambers:
The Eugene Rotary Club Sk8Eug Skatepark Project:
In partnership with the City of Eugene and the Skaters for Eugene Skateparks, the Eugene Rotary Club is asking for your support for an amazing community enhancement project - a City Center Skatepark - in the heart of downtown Eugene, Oregon. Like Rotary's highly successful RiverPlay playground for younger children, Eugene Rotary believes the Skatepark will promote out mission of supporting and investing in healthy and physically activities for the youth of our community.
The proposed 18,000 sq ft skatepark facility will be located in the currently underutilized area within Washington/Jefferson Park covered by the I-105 Bridge. We firmly believe that redesigning and renovating Washington/Jefferson Park into a regional, destination attraction for skaters of all ages and abilities will foster civic pride and support community livability. This area of our community currently sees a high frequency of negative activity. This project and the recently completed Public Safety Strategy will provide the positive and consistent user presence to the park necessary to transform the area into a focal point for community recreation, relaxation, and interaction.
This will be no ordinary skatepark! It will be the largest covered and lit skatepark in the region, allowing the rare opportunity to engage our youth in year-round, outdoor, healthy, physical activity. Designed by the renowned and highly respected Oregon firm Dreamland Skateparks with the input of local skaters, the skatepark will have a uniquely Eugene character. It will draw the attention of skaters and skate enthusiasts from around the nation, particularly the west coast region, bringing significant economic benefits to our community and helping to revitalize our downtown area.
Matching funds of nearly $300,000 from the City of Eugene are available for this project through system development charges. The Eugene Rotary Club has a goal to raise $100,000+ and to work with our partners Skaters for a Eugene Skatepark to reach the goal of raising an additional $300,000.
Our deadline to have the matching funds committed is April 30, 2010 in order to begin construction this summer. If funds are not secured, construction may be delayed until funds have been raised. You can help by ...
- Sponsoring an area or feature as a group or as an individual, naming rights are available
- Sponsoring a piece of the skatepark such as a brick, bench, or skate element
- Donating cash or in-kind labor and materials toward construction
- Sponsoring a fundraising event
Contributions are tax deductible and can be made to the Rotary Charitable Trust. Your generous support will help our Rotary Club meet its commitment to keeping our community's youth active and positive.
What you can do:
Learn More:
- View renderings of the proposed Skatepark and history of project:
visit our partner's website www.sk8eug.org; - Review Safety Strategy
- See Skatepark Plan
- See Sponsorship Opportunities
- See Related Videos
Donate:
- To make the donation, please download and print this form:
City Center Skatepark Donation & Pledge Form. - Donation checks should be made to "Eugene Rotary Charitable Trust" with "Skate Park" on the memo line, and mailed to Eugene Rotary Club at 132 E. Broadway, Suite 732, Eugene, OR 97401-3137
- Or contact Rotary's Skatepark Subcommittee Chair: Lee White, 541 343-6636 x102 or email lee@northwestmedia.com.
Speakers: Members of the Skatepark Subcommittee are interested in presenting to other groups in the Eugene/Springfield area, to arrange a presentation call Jay Silverman 541 345-7145.
