Rasor Park

Location: End of Rasor Ave. 

Rasor Park comprises 10 acres of the West Bank Riverfront Park System in the River Road area in Eugene. The park is an exceptional, distinctive public space because of its location on the river; special landscape including oak woodland, savanna-prairie, and other native vegetation; considerable neighborhood investment in native planting, care and maintenance; undedeveloped condition; excellent views; good pedestrian and bicycle access; and potential role in nodal development.

The park contains a significant and manageable patch of valuable habitat for native plants, animals, fungi, and other species. Likewise, the riparian forest provides opportunities for controlling exotic species and replanting with native tree, shrub and herbaceous species to increase the health, structure and viability of river zone. The existing Oregon white oak, woodland and other native trees are also valuable resources in the park.

After a year-long planning and public input process, a master plan for the park was completed in October 2001. This report details the preferred use of the park as a park node on the Willamette Greenway with metropolitan-wide significance, accommodating river-related and river-dependent recreation activities and programs, such as:

• Passive, low-impact and simple recreation activities: picnicking, bird watching, nature study and enjoyment, national history education, bicycling, and walking
• A demonstration project in savanna-prairie restoration and management
• Public education and research in natural history of the area
• Habitat restoration volunteer program

A key aspect of the master plan was replanting the area with native plants. The Friends of Rasor Park, a group of citizens who have taken an active stewardship role in the park and the surrounding area since 1996, have been behind most of these volunteer efforts. In spring 2002, over 50 volunteers realized that vision and planted, mulched and watered native trees, shrubs and flowers donated by local nurseries. Thanks to these volunteers, a native plant community has been reestablished at Rasor Park. e-mail Friends of Rasor Park

Rasor Park contains an area managed as a Dispersed Natural Area.