Alton Baker Park
Location: Ferry St. Bridge along River
Alton Baker Park, Eugene’s largest developed park, is home to dozens of recreational features and facilities serving the City of Eugene since 1959. The park is made up of two major areas, the more developed West Alton Baker Park, and the 237-acre Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park.
West Alton Baker Park Developed Area
Located immediately east of the Ferry Street Bridge along the north bank of the Willamette River, this portion of Alton Baker Park has had a long history of development, first under the jurisdiction of Lane County Parks Department, and more recently under the jurisdiction of the City of Eugene Parks and Open Space Division. The original 20 acre parcel was purchased by Lane County in 1881, however most of the park land was acquired by Lane County Parks between 1959 and 1964. The current size of the park is approximately 400 acres.
The park was dedicated to Alton F. Baker on June 30, 1967, by Clay Meyers, Secretary of State. Alton F. Baker, co-founder of the Eugene Register Guard, was fond of park acquisition issues, as he was instrumental in not only this park, but others such as Maurie Jacobs as well. Mr. Baker dreamed of having a large park on the north bank of the Willamette River.
The first master plan for the park was adopted in 1973. The park has had several plan revisions since then, the latest being adopted in 2000. Key features of the present day park are listed to the right.
Alton Baker Park contains an area managed as a Dispersed Natural Area.
Bicycle Detours during I-5 Bridge Replacement Project (2009-2012)
The Parks and Open Space Division (POS) is working closely with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) as replacement of the I-5 Bridge over the Willamette River begins this spring. ODOT and their contractors have been working in partnership with POS, Willamalane, the Whilamut Citizen Planning Commission, neighborhood groups and others to ensure that the project minimizes disruptions and mitigates negative impacts for park users during construction. However, there will be impacts as the contractors will be staging operations from the eastern end of the park and will need to close some bike paths through the park. ODOT will ensure that there is always a safe route open through the park to connect Eugene and Springfield, park users may experience delays or need to use an alternate route. ODOT will be enhancing the park in many ways including improving several trails and intersections, restoring riparian forest, planting native prairie grasses and wildflowers, and adding 5 Kalapuya talking stones. ODOT’s commitment to partnering with the community and the POS division has resulted in a well planned project that we hope will result in a long term benefit to the park and park users. Park detour routes have been broken up into stages. Stage 2 detours are expected to last from summer 2009 to fall 2012 and stage 3 detour routes are expected to be in effect intermittently between fall 2009 and fall 2012. For more information go to www.WillametteBridge.org
