Did you know that Eugene’s Willamette Street is a mere half a mile from its namesake the Willamette River? In fact, much of Eugene’s history and identity have long been shaped by these important and closely linked landmarks.
The Willamette to Willamette (W2W) project aims to make the connection between Eugene’s downtown and the Willamette River even clearer along one of Eugene’s “great streets” – 8th Avenue. A great street can be as much a destination as path. By integrating public art and local history, 8th Avenue can become an inviting, beautiful and walkable promenade to the river.
The project is seeking community input to make this vision for 8th Avenue a reality and create a high quality public street to complement all of the growing energy along this avenue. The City of Eugene wants to know what key elements will help make the link from Willamette to Wilmette and make 8th Avenue a truly “great street” – a place people want to visit and enjoy.
A brief online survey is now available on the project’s website, www.eugene-or.gov/W2W. Staff member will also be available to share information about the project and get input at the following dates and locations:
• The Barn Light East, October 13, 8-10am;
• Sam Bond's Brewing, October 13, 4-6pm; and
• Saturday Market, October 24, 10-2pm.
In addition to the survey, community members are invited to participate in a fun and informative Willamette to Willamette scavenger hunt. Those who complete both the survey and scavenger hunt can enter a drawing to win a River Raft Float for six on the Willamette River through the City of Eugene River House Outdoor Program. The survey and scavenger hunt will be open until November 16, 2015. A summary of the survey results and collected input will be posted on the website in early December.
To learn more about the W2W project visit www.eugene-or.gov/w2w, where you can also find a historic walking tour brochure with information about the history of Eugene along 8th Avenue.