In June of 2006, the North Riverfront Stakeholder Committee(NRSC) was formed to address development of the 4.5-acre parcel of land north of Tyler Street, between Michael's Landing and the Willamette River. Their focus is "Identification of community desires and needs regarding the design of the park," and to "Identify specific design elements or features that may be constructed within the Willamette River Greenway permit constraints and guidelines." Preservation seems not to be even a remote consideration.

Over the course of five meetings and little community input, six design concepts of limited variety have been drawn up. The lack of diversity does not reflect the designer's creative abilities, but the NRSC's desire to install too many features in a limited space. Most of these elements are already found elsewhere, restrictions on current uses are imposed, and environmental and safety issues arise.

An approximately 150-person capacity terraced seating area for watching the Community Band and other performances is proposed. Both Central Park and the Starker Arts Park amphitheater provide much larger venues and more parking. Audiences containing young families and older people may prefer a broad, flat expense to a narrow slope near a river.

Approximately 50 parking spaces are located

adjacent to the western half of Central Park, while the north riverfront area proposes 24 spaces; fewer, if boat trailers are present. Parking and boat ramp users exit via a steep 11 percent slope up to a busy Second Street/Highway 20 driveway.

The NRSC plans to prohibit motorized watercraft from the looping boat ramp, thereby increasing impact on the Crystal Lake boat ramp. They also plan limiting (if not prohibiting) off-leash dogs.

A multi-modal path will cross the 13- to 15-percent sloped ramp in two places, inviting accident and injury. This path is intended to connect to an existing narrow asphalt track that is constricted by the Holiday Inn and the top of the riverbank. The track dead ends in a parking lot at Second Street/Highway 20, where there is no more usable bank area.

Tree removal, surface reconfiguration, landscaping and the laying down of extensive hard surface will negatively impact the park area and Willamette River Greenway environment. While NRSC members suggest more access and activity will increase safety and security, providing easier access to an area with varying seasonal hazards raises other safety and security issues.

Beyond redundancies, restrictions and safety concerns, consider your purse. Oregon Department of Transportation owns the northernmost quarter of the property, where a major portion of the construction is planned. The cost of these elements will be lost if and when the Oregon Department of Transportation exercises its right-of-way. The NRSC has no cost estimate for their proposal. Whether funding comes from federal, state or local coffers, it is a tax burden, and maintenance will be a continuing expense.

The NRSC seems intent on developing this property to the greatest extent possible, yet anything beyond building restroom facilities and removing blackberries is superfluous.

This quiet, relatively untrammeled area provides respite within walking distance from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Please contact the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board or city council members and ask that the NRSC plan not be pursued.

Thomas Jensen is a Corvallis resident.