I advocate for not selling the 249 North Main Street property. Because of the downtown location of this beautiful property, it will make an ideal community park for all Oregon residents. It will benefit Oregon businesses and the local economy.
Let’s clear up some misconceptions about the sculpture park. The Main Street land is owned by the village and, as a community park, would continue to be owned by the village. Just as Jaycee Park has not been turned over to the soccer association or other athletic clubs, the Main Street property would not be turned over to the Friends of the Sculpture Garden Park.
The Friends of the Oregon Sculpture Garden has not asked the village to “give” the land to them. The property would stay as public land owned by the village.
The friends group is raising funds and organizing volunteers to help create this park and to offset costs. There are grants available for public art, monarch gardens, and recreation and education facilities. Businesses have already pledged to provide benches. Volunteers will provide seeds for pollinator plantings and are enthusiastic to help with gardening.
This park will be a joint venture of the community and the village, with the village having the authority to approve plans, just as they do for other parks. A Memorandum of Understanding would be worked out once the board approves this land as a park.
Recently, the board authorized $4 million for upgrading sports fields at Jaycee Park. This is in addition to original costs to buy the land and create the original sports fields. The village has talked about allocating another $2.5 million for Jaycee Park in the near future.
Trees were cut down for the upgrades, which no longer shade walking paths at Jaycee Park. However, the Main Street property has mature trees that would provide shade for walking paths near downtown.
These two community parks would fulfill different and important needs – Jaycee Park for athletics and the sculpture garden park for family gatherings, walking paths, education, a kids’ playground, a shelter, nature, and free public art.
A few trustees are concerned about the costs of the Main Street park, but have said nothing about the costs to improve Jaycee Park. The village president voted to spend that $4 million at Jaycee.
Yet he balks at the sculpture garden park, which would be a fraction of the cost. It all comes down to priorities and paying for what you believe in. The community believes in this unique downtown park and the board should listen.
Stephany Powers
Oregon
