Latest News Can Civic be saved? Eugene should investigate the possibilities The day may come when wrecking crews demolish Civic Stadium to allow some other use for the 10-acre property at the foot of College Hill. If that day ever arrives, people in Eugene and beyond will want to be certain that every option for the preservation, restoration and continued use of Civic Stadium had been thoroughly explored and ruled out. The loss of the historic ballpark would be a cause for sorrow. Such a loss, accompanied by nagging regrets over having failed to investigate brighter possibilities, would be a tragedy. » Continue reading Civic Stadium Restoration: Glorious Past, Lasting Legacy, Promising Potential Civic Stadium: A Rich History Since 1938, Civic Stadium has been a centerpiece of recreation activity in the Eugene/Springfield area. Thousands of citizens have annually attended Civic events in the heart of Eugene for those seven decades. The stadium was realized through the cooperative efforts of the federal government (Civic was a Works Progress Administration project), local businesses (through fundraising by the Eugene Chamber of Commerce), the school district, the citizens of Eugene (who passed a bond measure by a two to one majority to purchase the property), and local lumber mills who donated most of the wood used in the stadium. During those 70 years, Civic Stadium has been used for an enterprising variety of events, including high school football, baseball and soccer games, golf, rodeos, concerts, graduations, and funerals of prominent citizens. It was the site of football and baseball games between area lumber mills. The Eugene Larks minor league baseball team was in residence in the early years, followed by the Eugene Emeralds baseball team, which has provided summertime excitement for many generations of residents since 1969. Recent Developments Now, this rich history of community value is threatened. The Stadium’s usefulness to Eugene School District 4J, the facility’s sole owner since 1938, has decreased in recent years now that each high school has its own football stadium, to the point where it is only used by 4J for South Eugene baseball and girls soccer teams. District 4J currently inventories Civic Stadium as “surplus” property. Furthermore, District 4J is a reluctant landlord to the Eugene Emerald’s minor league baseball team. 4J went before the courts within the last two years and successfully had a clause removed from the original property deed requiring that Civic Stadium be used in perpetuity for recreational purposes only. Also within the last two years, the University of Oregon decided to restart its baseball program. Representatives of the University, Eugene Emeralds, and the Chamber of Commerce cursorily met to discuss the possibility of the UO team playing at Civic Stadium, before the Eugene Emeralds’ season. The UO quickly decided to build its own facility on university property. Close on the heels of the UO’s decision, the Eugene Emeralds announced that they intended to play at the UO’s new stadium. For several years, the Eugene Emeralds have candidly stated that upgrades and improvements, such as new locker rooms and improved accessibility to meet ADA requirements, should be made to Civic to bring it up to minor league standards. However, District 4J has not wanted to invest any money into Civic due to its surplus property status. The Emeralds undoubtedly concluded that moving to the new UO stadium was the smartest thing to do. A Grass Roots Response... » continue reading News Articles » Save Civic Stadium » Say it ain’t so, Civic! » Civic Pride » Bottom of the first » Top of the second » Sustainable Civic |
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How would you like to have this T-shirt? How about a Save Civic Stadium button, or a bumper sticker?
In September, we participated in the annual Eugene Celebration Parade to share with the community our pride and dedication to saving Civic Stadium.