viewpoint
BY MAJESKA SEESE-GREEN
Scobert Park
Revisited
Hot topic on neighborhood meeting agenda
U
nder towering trees in the heart of Eugene’s
Whiteaker neighborhood, Scobert Gardens is a
“pocket” park on West 4th, just west of Blair
Boulevard. Landscaping surrounds the open lawn on
three sides. But recently several trees and numerous
shrubs were removed, along with the table and
benches in the shade.
The changes represent a “collaboration”
between Eugene’s parks operations and police
department to increase visual clearance into the
park “to discourage ongoing illicit activities.” As
this goes to press, the wrought iron fence may be
re-aligned to change the northeast corner.
According to the city manager’s offi ce, “the
problems of illicit activity, human waste and needles
are signifi cant problems at Scobert Park, but are
growing problems throughout the park system.” Not
surprisingly, attempts to push problems out of downtown,
Scobert and other parks result in the same problems surfacing
elsewhere.
With this summer’s resurgence of problems in and around Scobert Park, a handful of
infl uential neighbors met with police, parks and OLCC. Then, following internal meetings of
city staff, park modifi cations were announced — after work had begun.
However, “taking back the park” means different things to different people with different
interests. There has been no genuine, broad-based neighborhood/city conversation aimed
at resolving the many confl icting interests.
An example is the question of restrooms. While the city has something of a commitment
to provide restrooms 24/7 in this area, fi nding a suitable location for portables after the
Monroe Station closes will be diffi cult. Is Scobert Park an ideal location for restrooms, or a
horrible location? Depends on your perspective.
But the planned realignment of the wrought iron fence removes a location that could
well be used for portable restrooms. Will the city hold off on changing the fence until a
restroom location is determined, or change the fence now to preclude restrooms there, or
potentially realign the fence again later at extra expense?
A forum does exist where all neighbors have equal opportunity to participate, regardless
of perspective. That forum is the city-recognized neighborhood association, Whiteaker
Community Council (WCC).
“What’s up with Scobert Park?!” is the topic of the WCC general meeting on Wednesday,
Sept. 14, as announced on the city-funded postcard mailed to all neighborhood addresses
in August. Everyone is welcome at this meeting, beginning at 7 pm, at the Whiteaker
Community Center (corner of Clark and North Jackson).
One forum won’t resolve the ongoing Scobert-area problems and confl icting interests,
but it can be a new start — especially if neighbors with differing views choose to attend. For
those not happy with WCC, come and help make it different.
Neighborhood-based resolution of differences and collaboration for safer parks is
possible. It will not be easy nor come quickly. But it must include the neighborhood
association — if the city still holds to its commitment to “Neighborhood Empowerment” of
several years ago.
City staff informed WCC of the Scobert Park modifi cations after they were already
decided and begun. Now parks operations needs to hold off on fi nal changes, such as the
confi guration of the fence.
We’ve seen that diffi cult community collaborations won’t be organized by the City,
especially in these lean times. It’s up to community and neighborhood groups to take the
lead, together.
Majeska Seese-Green, former chair of WCC, co-founded ACT (A Community Together — Lane County), an
independent nonprofit supporting capacity-building organizing and partnerships, across divides. Whiteaker ACT is
on Facebook and at can be reached at 337-1643.
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EUGENE WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
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