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.
Clearwater Park
Willamalane is working on a management plan for the park.
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, the park has experienced a significant increase in visitor usage, specifically during the hot summer months. As a result, during these peak times, traffic, noise, parking, civil disobedience, and neighborhood complaints have dramatically increased.
Within the next three years, the District should complete a comprehensive master plan for Clearwater Park. The master plan will take a long-term look at the park and determine how it should be developed and managed over the next 20 years. In the meantime, several improvements are being made that will enhance the use of the park, and at the same time, create challenges for maintaining and managing the site.
The Mill Race Ecosystem Restoration Project, sponsored by the City of Springfield and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will be finished within the boundaries of the park by December 2010.
With this project comes a new mill race channel, improved parking and access to the Mill Race. Installation of a new flush restroom near the Mill Race and boat ramp will be completed by May 2010. The Middle Fork Path project will begin in June 2010 and the majority will be completed by December 2010. The trailhead will be located in Clearwater Park.
View a map of the path
Draft Clearwater Park/Middle Fork Path Management Plan.
Middle Fork Willamette River Path
Willamalane is working on the first phase of a path along the Middle Fork of the Willamette River.
Phase 1 includes a 10-foot-wide asphalt walking and cycling path from Willamalane’s Clearwater Park west to Quarry Butte. Path users can bike or drive to Clearwater Park, where the path’s eastern trailhead will be located, with parking for 21 vehicles, a restroom and informational kiosk.
After travelling 21/2 miles through beautiful scenery, first along the new Mill Race channel and then along the Middle Fork, the paved section of the path will end at a 70-foot pedestrian bridge spanning Quarry Creek. Path users will enjoy a small picnic area just before the bridge featuring tables, a bike rack, signs and a portable restroom.
Path users can either turn around there, for a 5-mile round-trip outing, or walkers can continue on foot, exploring a primitive hiking trail that will travel around the butte, connecting to the existing path system in Dorris Ranch.
The cost of the project is approximately $3 million, with $2.7 million coming from federal transportation funds and $300,000 in local matching funds. This section of the path is all on public land, owned by Willamalane, the city, SUB, or jointly by all three agencies. Willamalane would like to thank the city of Springfield and Springfield Utility Board for their cooperation.
Phase 2 of the project is yet unfunded, but acquisition and design work is wrapping up, so that once funding is secured the project will be ready to go. Phase 2 will include a 21-car trailhead at the entrance to Dorris Ranch and 1.5 miles of a new, 10 foot-wide asphalt path through Dorris Ranch and around Quarry Butte, connecting to the bridge and Phase 1 of the path.
Future plans call for the full 4-mile path to 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 the future plans, providing access to Lane County’s 2,300-acre Howard Buford Recreation Area and Mount Pisgah. The eventual construction of the bridge will provide access to 16 miles of trails within the recreation area and access to the preferred route of the Eugene to Pacific Crest Trail.
The first section of the Middle Fork Path is tentatively scheduled to open by the end of 2010.
View a map of the path
Draft 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.
• 2010 SDC Fact Sheet and Worksheet
• SDC Methodology Implementing Resolution
20-Year Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan
A true community plan
The Willamalane Board of Directors, the Springfield City Council, and the Lane County Board of Commissioners have all adopted Willamalane’s Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan – our guide for the development and rehabilitation of parks and recreation facilities in the Springfield area over the next 20 years. The Comp Plan, as it is called, is now an official part of the Eugene-Springfield Metro Area General Plan.
“The Comp Plan is a true community plan,” says Willamalane Superintendent Bob Keefer. “With input from more than 750 area residents, you and your neighbors have helped develop a working vision for the future of parks and recreation in the Springfield area.”
That vision includes a neighborhood park within a half-mile of every District resident; Lively Park developed as a true community park with a playground, picnic area, trails and more; multiuse walking and bicycling paths along the Millrace and the Middle Fork of the Willamette River; a new community recreation center to replace the Memorial Building; and a riverfront park in Glenwood.
Community partners include the City of Springfield, Springfield School District, Springfield Utility Board, private developers, area residents and others. Area residents and public officials also made up our Citizen Advisory Committee, which oversaw the two-and-a-half year-long project.
Take a Look at the Plan
All documents are
in PDF format and will open in a new window.
• Foreward
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