exploring this now condemned (Wild and Open Spaces) woods, I have <br />seen and heard animals that most Oregonians never have experienced in <br />their lives. These rare species have a safe and spacious place to thrive or <br />migrate. Some are pushed and pushed by developments into smaller and <br />smaller areas. This causes the loss of the species to this area all together, <br />or cause too many , like dear, wild cats and more in their yards. Having <br />more "Wild and Open Paces" allows room for some of these species that <br />help balance our ecosystem. The dear that eat peoples vegetable gardens, <br />flowers and are killed on our roads are a problem for many in South <br />Eugene. The population of the dear herds would explode with the S133AM <br />development. There are ways of natural selection that are a cheep fix to <br />this problem. <br />On Thanksgiving Day I heard young boys laughing while building a fort <br />out of the fallen trees. Ok... they were playing war. I hadn't heard that <br />kind of laughing in pretending at play in the woods since I was a child. It <br />brought tears to my eyes realizing that there was no other place within the <br />city where I could hear this. <br />Eugene is known for caring for " Wild and Open Spaces". Yes there is the <br />Ridge Line trail system and other groomed beautiful trails, but The SB30A <br />woods are a gem, a gift from nature, right in our back yard. I thank whom <br />ever.. nature, for sharing this with me every visit I make. I do, so do many <br />more. <br />The sign with the development news and ways to contact you is place <br />where cars coming of 30th on to Spring Blvd can see. The hikers miss it <br />pretty much. It will be placed in a way so that all who use the trails can see <br />as well. <br />Portland has Forest Park. Although it is a City Park, it has many very long <br />winding paths, and quite a few wild secret ones. Why not Eugene. We <br />need one. We could have one. It's living right here. <br />I know it's money, developers, developers, developers. No matter what the <br />promises are of a small density, attention to parks and recreation....... we <br />both know that would not happen after all has been built. What would <br />happen would be tragic and shameful. Certainly there is space enough in <br />the already developing far north west and far south west parts of the city. <br />3 <br />Laurel Ridge Record (Z 15-5) Page 755 <br />