recently took a look at the entrance to Hendricks Park from our neighborhood, and I could see <br />how the transition to Hendricks Park worked along the Ribbon Trail <br />(which is a breathtaking trail in the Spring with giant swaths of wildflowers flowing and moving. <br />in the wind on the gentle slopes of the Laurel Ridgeline that borders the Ribbon Trail). <br />A significant aspect of this transition from city to parkland along the Ribbon Trail, is the 8 acres <br />bordering my house on Capital Drive all the way to Hendricks Park. This 1/811 mile trail is a <br />buffer zone for Hendricks Park and should remain intact to ensure longevity of Hendricks Park <br />specialized, and now, compromised (with the development of Moon Mountain & building of <br />the Ribbon Trail) delicate eco- system. Nature can restore itself, but it needs the time & <br />untrammeled conditions to do so. <br />The Army of Corp Engineer Report in 1987 states that the longevity of Hendricks Park was in <br />jeopardy at that time due to surrounding development around the park and the consequential <br />impact of being cut off from the mainland forest surrounding this area. This report was <br />conducted decades before the large development of the Moon Mountain area southwest of <br />Hendricks Park which further cut the Park off from the mainland forest. <br />The Hendricks Park Forest Management Plan echoes the Corp Engineer Report on the <br />importance of restoration for the survival of this historic park. It also notes that the intention of <br />the founders of Hendricks Park, Thomas and Martha Hendricks was (p.18): ...that such park <br />should be procured at the present time when the same is available in its natural state, to be <br />reserved for the future generations of the city of Eugene as a Public Park open to all inhabitants <br />thereof.... <br />Although building of the Ribbon Trail is an addition to our neighborhood, it has impacted the <br />nature area surrounding it significantly since it was built. Cutting of the copse of woods at the <br />entrance on Floral Hill left a wind tunnel that has directly impacted and still impacts my <br />property. (This was verified by the Urban Forester who visited my house shortly after a storm a <br />few years back.) To date, I have lost 57 trees in and around my property since the building of <br />the Ribbon Trail; and that is a significant amount of tree loss! <br />Plus, the 8 acres is studded with extensive tree loss since the building of the Ribbon Trail. It <br />used to be I could navigate the small trail at the base of the <br />8 acres & hike uphill towards my house with not much of a problem. But not today, there are <br />so many downed trees that it's close to impossible to navigate. <br />Also, since the building of the Ribbon Trail, Hendricks Park has had an unusual amount of <br />downed trees. <br />I have lived up here since 1988 and have never seen such on-going damage as I do now every <br />year after to storms, cold spells, etc.. There was never any impact at all on my property until <br />2 <br />