As many of you know, the Lane County Fairgrounds have recently begun locking their gates except during public events. This cuts off a critical north-south connector between the College Hill/Friendly St. and the Jefferson Westside/Whitaker neighborhoods. The policy was enacted without public outreach and without gathering the opinions of those affected by the closures.

A community coalition, Friends of the Fairgrounds (FoF), has formed to engage Lane County Administrators and Commissioners in a discussion. This actions impacts many people in Eugene by making a publicly funded space inaccessible to the public, making walking and biking a less convenient option, impeding a safe connection to two neighborhood schools, denying access to an open space, and arresting legitimate users’ ability to monitor the space, which is a proven crime deterrent.

FoF supports connectivity and safety for active transportation options. We believe that keeping the Fairgrounds gates open contributes to a more safe and enjoyable transportation experience in one of Eugene’s most vibrant areas.

Please help us to engage our county officials by signing the petition at this link: http://www.petitiononline.com/Lec4all/petition.html

And please pass this message forward to anyone you believe would like to see the Fairgrounds maintained as a public open space. If you have any questions, please contact Anya Dobrowolski with Friends of the Fairgrounds at anya.dobrowolski@gmail.com.