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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 2017)
NEWS BY MORGAN THEOPHIL NO MORE TRASH Eugene woman joins with the homeless to clean up trash in the city’s largest park VOLUNTEERS HELP CLEAN UP EUGENE PARKS PHOTO COURTESY KATHY WALKER W ith the help of a few volunteers and sup- port from the city, one community member started a biweekly trash cleanup project at Alton Baker Park. “I’ve said it many times, I’m not a pro- tester or an activist,” project organizer Kathy Walker says. But she has made significant efforts to start a dialogue be- tween the city and its unprotected, unhoused citizens. In July, Walker was asked to meet with Eugene May- or Lucy Vinis, and the two decided to organize and run a “town hall type” meeting in Alton Baker Park on Aug. 1. According to Walker, representatives from the city were invited to meet with the homeless, with the hope of creat- ing conversation between the unhoused and other members in the community. At the meeting, Walker says, there was a clear piece of common ground: “Both sides were sick of the garbage.” She continues, “One ‘camper’ mentioned how hard it was to dispose of their garbage and how, if only they had the tools, they would even clean up other people’s messes.” Walker says she tried to get Eugene Public Works to schedule garbage pickups on a regular basis, but the city department explained to her how overloaded they were and said it wouldn’t be possible. After a man pointed out that scheduled trash pickups would prevent full bags from being torn open and scattered everywhere, Walker decided to take matters into her own hands. And with the support of the mayor and the help of one other housed volunteer, “We did just that,” Walker says. Walker partnered with Eugene’s Parks and Open Space, which granted her a three-month trial period of support and supplies. Parks and Open Space pro- vides trash bags and park patrols, an authorized vehicle ac- cess permit for the trial period and made arrangements for Walker to have easy access to a garbage dumpster. Walker organized in less than a week and officially be- gan on Sept. 12. She goes with a driver and a few volun- teers every other week to empty trash cans and pick up trash bags at Alton Baker Park. “Illegal camping and the large amounts of trash and waste left behind has a huge impact on the park, including sensitive natural areas and water quality,” Carrie Peterson, Parks and Open Space resource development manager, tells EW. “Park staff struggle to keep up with the extraordi- narily high demand, and couldn’t do it alone.” Walker started a GoFundMe campaign in mid-October to help offset the costs and give a little bit to the volun- teers — all of whom are unhoused, according to Walker. “Our trial period ends in December, but I’m hoping we have made enough of an impact to continue indefinitely,” she says. “Efforts like Kathy’s, ongoing river cleanup projects by Willamette Riverkeeper volunteers and the annual Great Willamette Cleanup are excellent examples of everyday people stepping up to make a big difference,” Peterson says. Walker says she also arranges unscheduled pickups on the off weeks when she can, and she spreads the word as much as possible. “All I did was put their idea into action,” she says. “This helps us show the public that most of these people want to keep it clean — they just need a little help to make it happen.” ■ IT’S ABOUT TIME BY D AV I D WA G N E R There is nothing like three days of hard rain to signal the proper end of summer and the beginning of the rainy season, aka our winter. We celebrate rain and cloudy skies for at least the next month or so. By February, many will tire of mist and driz- zle, but for now we are happy to walk in the wet. The forest fires that have ravaged the nearby hills have been quenched. Deep pockets of coals will yet burn a while but the serious threat is over. It is time to roll up the hoses and put away the hose timers. A sudden hard frost, which can hap- pen with little warning, will ruin those timers so it is good to care for them now. We can story of woodlands in urban enjoy a few more days of marigolds, zin- parks. One of its odd traits is nias and other annual flowers that are to bloom in late fall, providing just past their peak production. What a nectar source when little else remains of the pole beans can be left is available. Honeybees love C O M M O N YELLOW JACKET to finish maturing before drying for next it. A surprise is how many na- VESPULA VULGARIS year’s planting. tive yellow jackets and wasps Among the most noxious, aggressive, non-na- swarm their flower clusters, tive plants is English ivy. It has been widely used and even some evening moths. as an easily established ground cover. English ivy David Wagner is a botanist who works in Eugene. He teaches moss classes, leads nature walks and makes nature calendars. 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