Hello Friends of Zumwalt Park,
Well, we are thinking about Spring again and mowing the Park for our 6th year. However, there are some changes happening at Zumwalt.
Several of us met at the County Park office, at their invitation, to talk about the future of Zumwalt Park. Mike Russell, Lane County Parks Manager, told us the Army Corp of Engineers, from whom the Lane County leases the land for the Park, is requiring the County Parks Dept. to open Zumwalt Park to allow cars to drive into the Park. The cars would be allowed to drive in from April 27th to mid-October each year. Cars would be required to pay a ‘day-use’ fee and walk-ins would not. We asked Mike Russell to write a letter explaining his reasons for opening the Park - below is a link to his letter.
Our thoughts and concerns continue;
- We said we had strong concerns about safety (both for humans and also for dogs), how to keep people from driving in the big meadow, or along water's edge, or from the forest.
- We cited fire concerns and trash concerns (we've been hauling out the garbage these last 4½ years, but won't do it if open to cars). The Parks Dept. said they would put in a dumpster.
- We asked if they were going to take over the mowing and Mike Russell replied that they'd had more budget cuts this year and could we still mow?!
- When asked what they would do if we didn't mow, they replied they would mow at least once a year. I said I felt it would be too much to ask our volunteers to bring their mowers out and mow the grassy areas if ruts are created by vehicles driving in the fields, etc.
- We asked about blocking vehicle access to the grassy areas and they said they didn't have the money to do that.
- We asked about installing speed-bumps along the road to reduce speeding concerns, again - no money.
- We asked who would monitor Park activities and they said someone would come by the Park twice a day on the weekends.
- We talked for a long time and came away from the meeting very frustrated.
The Park is very special and is sought out by those who enjoy listening to the quiet sounds of nature as they walk or bike. I believe we will lose that quiet and peaceful feel of the Park. When the Park was closed by the County 5½ years ago, we got together as a community of concerned citizens and decided we could make a difference for the good of all. All of us that have volunteered at the Park have done so to keep this Park open, because it is a different kind of Park.
If revenue is the reason the Army Corps wants the Park open to cars (and we don't know that for sure yet), then we came up with a few ideas; those that wished to support the Park maybe could pay the equivalent of a Lane County Parks yearly pass ($30), or maybe only open the Park to cars on the weekend, or ???
A core group of Friends of Zumwalt Park will be meeting with the Army Corps. in the next couple of weeks to talk about our concerns.
Our wish is to hear your thoughts on this matter, pro or con. Now is the time to raise your voice and share your ideas. We are also very interested in gathering historical information about the Park, especially the problems that occurred in the 1970's (drag racing in the Park, etc.), and any know reasons why the Park was closed in 1982.
Please either email us at;
incasdogs@gmail.com or katgarden@willamette.net
or mail us info. at P.O.Box 818, Veneta, OR 97487
If we can't resolve the issue with the Army Corps we would like to hold a 'town hall' meeting at the Veneta Library and invite the Lane County Parks management and Army Corps. representatives to answer questions and hear the concerns of our community.
We look forward to your responses.
Thank you deeply,
Mary & Kat
Mike Russell's Response (109kb PDF)
Zumwalt Park Petition (97kb PDF)