Eugene’s Downtown Riverfront Park project is moving forward into the construction phase as scheduled. The contractor intends to mobilize on site at the end of April, keeping this legacy project on track to be completed in the spring of 2021. While it’s possible that slowdowns in the global economy may cause delays in the availability of materials and supplies for the project, at this point the project is on its original timeline.
Maintaining construction projects is a key piece of the City’s continuation of operations. City contracts are an important component of a healthy local economy, and a significant part of the community’s long term recovery effort. These efforts will focus on employment recovery, implementing stimulus dollars, allowing the continuation of large public and private projects, and utilizing our existing programs and tools for development and business assistance.
Eugene-based Brown Contracting is the general contractor for the project. A regionally-recognized firm, Brown has been working in Eugene building parks, public infrastructure, and private projects for more than 23 years and has a record of high-quality construction throughout our community.
Brown Contracting has implemented a strong set of safety protocols for its employees, including designating an assigned distancing chief for each of their regional projects. These protocols are updated on an almost daily basis as we learn more about COVID-19 and how it is transmitted, and as new recommendations emerge from the CDC. Signs at the project entry gates will ensure visitors meet a specific set of criteria around their personal wellness in the last 14 days and other key criteria related to social distancing.
About the Downtown Riverfront Park
Downtown Riverfront Park sits along the bank of the Willamette River and in the heart of Eugene’s greater riverfront development project. The design concept calls for a 4-acre riverfront park that’s fundamentally urban in character balanced by riverbank and habitat enhancements. Broad river views, new bicycle and pedestrian paths, seating, and overlooks highlight the park’s design, which will be complemented by a new mixture of uses on the adjacent redevelopment site. Integrated art pieces will share stories about the land, industry, and diverse community both past and present, creating a park experience that’s truly all about Eugene. The park is projected to open in spring 2021.
Funding for the Downtown Riverfront Park development comes from the 2018 Parks and Recreation Bond and Levy, Urban Renewal Agency funds and capital funds.