Committee suggests extensive changes to city's Park Blocks.

Byline: Edward Russo The Register-Guard

PARK BLOCKS PLAN Residents can review a draft master plan for Eugene's downtown Park Blocks. When: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today. Where: Tykeson Room, Public Library, 100 W. 10th Ave. For details: Call Steve Loges, 682-8814.

Nearing the half-century mark, Eugene's downtown Park Blocks could use a face-lift.

So says a committee of residents who have brainstormed ways to spiff up the well-used blocks at East Eighth Avenue and Oak Street. The blocks are home to the Saturday and Lane County Farmer's markets, and provide a place for downtown workers and residents to enjoy the outdoors in the heart of the city.

"The Park Blocks are a tremendous asset to the community," said Scott Clarke, an architect with Pivot Architecture of Eugene, hired to help the committee develop a master plan. "The blocks are like the city's living room, and it has the potential to be much better than it is."

The plan, drafted by the 17-member committee, proposes major changes, including: turning the Lane County parking garage at the northwest corner of the Park Blocks into an open park, creating new fountains and curbless streets, and making enhancements for the Saturday and Farmer's markets.

No money has been identified for the work. And some of the ideas, such as turning the northwest block into parks space, might take many years to accomplish. That proposal in particular is tricky because it would require removal of the existing county-owned, below-grade "butterfly" parking lot.

"The change in (that) block is pretty much way out there in the future and a lot of discussion would need to take place," said David Suchart, Lane County's Management Services director, who is on the committee.

But other ideas may be easier to accomplish, said Steve Loges, a project manager with Eugene's facility management division.

They include renovating the circular fountain on the southwest block, installing grade-level fountains on the southeast and northwest blocks that children could run through, plus lowering concrete walls and removing elevated areas that hinder the Saturday and Farmer's markets. Replacing traditional curbs along north and south Park Street with more gradual inclines would provide more space for festivals and events, Loges said.

The Park Blocks were built in 1958.

The proposed improvements would follow a recent big change to the location: The creation of the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza on the northeast corner of East Eighth Avenue and Oak Street.

The new plan shows one-way East Eighth Avenue being converted to two-way traffic in the near future, Loges said.

Also, the proposed installation of concrete bollards and accentuated cross walks would improve pedestrian safety on East Eighth Avenue and Oak Street, said Beth Little, general manager of Saturday Market and a committee member.

To keep children from darting into the streets and market patrons from jaywalking, organizers today string plastic fencing between fence posts embedded in concrete blocks that must be lugged downtown each Saturday, Little said.

The concrete bollards would replace the posts and "be a more elegant solution," she said.

Little especially likes the idea of an enlarged shelter on the southeast block to replace the smaller existing shelter and a portable stage now used by the market.

"The new shelter would be my personal priority," she said. "But, overall, this process has shown the Saturday Market community that the city understands and respects both the cultural and economic development that we provide."

Residents can review the plan this evening at the downtown Public Library.

"This will give people a chance to tell us what they think about it," Loges said.

The committee wants to finish the plan later this month, he said, and make it available to city councilors and county commissioners.

Portland-based Walker Macy, a landscape architecture and urban design firm, helped Pivot Architecture with the plan. Altogether, consultants will cost the city $55,000, Loges said.