Scobert Gardens Park Renovation

[Click on the image to enlarge]

With additional design feedback in hand, staff have re-designed the Scobert Gardens Park renovation project to address the community’s comments on the 3^rd design. The updated project plan reflects community feedback in the following ways:

• Sidewalks have been narrowed to a 5’ width
• Stage area paving moved south toward more shade and reduced in size
• Playground moved south and away from street sidewalk and fence
• Front security fence remains for closure at night only.
• More new trees are shown in the lawn
• Relocates south “buffer fence” to 20 feet north of south neighbor fences, reclaiming parkland.
• Renovated “dogleg” area provides community garden spaces for use by non-profit partners.
• Restroom (Portland Loo Style) proposed along West 4^th Ave. in parking bump out.

While we understand that retaining the front fence in the design is not supported by some, nearly 60% of the responses staff received from the neighborhood were supportive of this approach. In addition, we received significant feedback that it wasn’t worth building new park features without it as night-time vandalism would render the park improvements regularly damaged or un-maintainable. This feedback is substantiated by past experience, and you can read more about this decision in the updated FAQs.

Next Steps

Scobert Garden’s Park’s location within the Blair Historic Commercial District is unique as its siting is on land originally owned and shared with neighbors by an early Eugene settler and farmer. Staff have consulted with the State Historic Preservation office and, in turn, local tribal governments. At the Tribe’s request the University of Oregon Museum of Cultural and Natural History will perform an archeological survey and study of the site, which should be available next year. We will post the report here when it’s complete.

Staff will also be submitting a Historical Alteration Application for the park renovation project to meet City Planning approval requirements for the Blair Historic Commercial Business District. This is a Planning Division Type II process that is approved by the Planning Director with notification to adjacent property owners and neighbors who can provide input to the Director.

In the meantime, we are actively working on construction documentation for the improvements. We look forward to starting construction in early summer of 2026 and to celebrating a renovated Scobert Gardens Park later in the year.