Save Eugene's Civic Stadium!

Our beautiful Civic Stadium was built in 1938 as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which was enacted by Presidential Order in 1935, and provided jobs and income to the unemployed during the Great Depression in the United States. Shortly after it was built, the people of Eugene authorized the City to deed the ballpark to the Eugene School District as an act of good faith for the token sum of $1.00, with the understanding that it was for use "as a recreation area for the School District and for the municipality." This generous, forward-thinking decision has allowed the people of Eugene to gather and enjoy both professional and high school baseball for the last 70 years, all the while generating revenue for our schools.

Recently, the Eugene School District 4J has felt burdened by the economic responsibility of maintaining Civic Stadium, and has deemed it to be "surplus", with the intent of selling the property. In order to broaden their options for the sale of the property, the 4J School District engaged the City of Eugene in a Circuit Court proceeding to argue that the deed did not exclusively restrict the land for recreational use in perpetuity. In an April 3rd, 2007 ruling, which both parties agreed in advance not to appeal, Judge Karsten Rasmussen determined that the school district holds the Civic Stadium property without any restrictions or limitations as to its future use.

This decision could result in a number of possible outcomes, leaving the future of our ballpark uncertain. It leaves the door open for the school district to sell the property to a developer, with the intent of demolishing the stadium and using the land for commercial or residential construction. The Coalition to Save Civic Stadium opposes this potential action, and proposes any of the following as possible alternatives:

* The City of Eugene reacquires the property, whether by bond measure or otherwise, with the intent to maintain its historic use as a recreational site for the municipality.

* Fundraising efforts allow Eugene School District 4J to retain Civic Stadium, make the necessary repairs, and be able to maintain the facility for recreational use.

* A private or public entity purchases the property with the express stipulation that Civic Stadium be maintained for recreational use in perpetuity.

About CSCS

The Coalition to Save Civic Stadium (CSCS), formed in early 2007, is comprised of a group of private citizens with the aim of preserving Eugene's historic ballpark. We believe that Civic Stadium is an invaluable community resource that enriches the lives of citizens of all ages, and should be maintained indefinitely as a civic asset for Eugene area residents.