Eugene is a city rich with parks and open spaces. With more than 3,000 acres and a wide variety of stages of development, these public spaces offer opportunities for athletes, hikers, skate boarders, children at play, dogs and nature enthusiasts alike.
Some of the larger, more prestigious parks are a must see for any resident new to the area or just exploring the parks for the first time.
For a relaxing bike ride or stroll, Alton Baker Park offers a wide variety of scenery and available activities. Located on the north side of the Willamette River, just within sight of the University, the park offers its more-developed western side and the Whilamut Natural Area to the east for a total of more than 400 acres. Several bridges enable easy access for bicycles and pedestrians from the South Bank Trail to the park and the North Bank Trail, which runs along its southern edge. Alton Baker’s key features include gardens, a museum and planetarium, an amphitheater, an off-leash dog park, trails for various forms of recreation, art installations and a large duck pond.
A short but somewhat intense hike could land an avid park visitor at the top of one of Eugene’s tallest land formations: Spencer Butte. The butte is part of the Ridgeline Park system. In addition to this prominent land structure, the system includes the Amazon Headwaters, Mt. Baldy and Blanton Ridge. Hiking trails can be found throughout this area offering hikers an excellent chance to explore Eugene’s natural scenery without leaving the city. The Ridgeline Park System is located at the southern edge of the city limits and from the summit of Spencer Butte, hikers can take in the panoramic view of the city and surrounding areas. Most would consider this to be worth the almost three-hour round-trip trek from the base. These trails can be accessed from the western and northeastern sides of Spencer Butte Park.
Though small, one of the most beautiful parks in Eugene is the Owen Rose Garden. This park is perfect for a mid-afternoon walk or picnic among the flowers. It offers a gazebo and one of its best features is the historic cherry tree that offers its shade for those who wish to relax in the grass. The park is located just west of Washington Street, along the south side of the Willamette. The South Bank Trail gives bicyclists and pedestrians an opportunity to stop at the park and walk among the flowers before continuing along with their errands or recreation.
Amazon Park, located along Willamette Street just south of downtown, offers a wide range of amenities to tempt most city dwellers to stop and check out its various paths, sports fields and even the Amazon Pool. Though not as undeveloped as the Ridgeline, Amazon features a community park, a dog area, a skate park, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, soccer fields and performance spaces. Shakespeare in the Park utilizes one of these performance spaces every August for free shows on weekends.
Just southeast of the University’s campus lies a natural area: Hendricks Park. This park is nestled in the tree-lined hills and neighborhood dwellings. From the beauty of the bike and pedestrian friendly trails, it would be easy to forget that this park is located so near to businesses, housing and traffic. The slopes here are steep enough to reach a fast pace whether jogging or biking down after the climb to the top of one of the many paths.
To receive a free map of the Eugene parks, check out www.eugene-or.gov/parks.