Downtown Riverfront Park Concepts

Aerial view of the Downtown Riverfront development and Riverfront Park site (Imagery: © 2018 Google)

I missed last Thursday’s open house hosted by the City of Eugene that offered a “sneak peek” at the Riverfront Park design proposals. I did attend the project’s initial public input meeting back in May and came away impressed from that earlier event by the level of public interest and the earnestness of both the City’s project managers and the design team from Walker Macy to gather and incorporate citizen input (the City received responses to its survey from more than 1,700 people). This time around, Walker Macy presented three distinct design options with the goal of once again listening to the public and honing in on a final design that truly reflects what Eugeneans want from their new, urban riverfront park. 

Since the last meeting, the City worked with developers Williams/Dame & Associates to expand the park project to include 1.1 acres designated for a public plaza on the redevelopment site. I’m not sure how much coordination has occurred between Williams/Dame’s landscape architects and Walker Macy but I consider this a positive move. My concern about the parallel development of the plans for the park and Williams/Dame’s $100+ million commercial/residential project has always been that the overall effort would not be planned comprehensively and in a unified manner. Walker Macy how has responsibility for the design of the public plaza, ensuring that it will be an integral part of the park’s total design. 

Those who did not attend Thursday’s design presentation still can review and comment upon the three design options. I’ll briefly summarize the options here but as they did following its first meeting, the City has set up an online survey to gather feedback. The survey is accompanied by more detailed information about the concepts than I’ve collected below from the City's project website. It will remain open until Friday, August 10 so be sure to check it out before then if you wish to weigh in on the plans. 

Design Option 1: Winding Paths

The main entry plaza offers panoramic views of the river from the overlook’s edge. From there, a series of pedestrian paths meander through the restored riparian zone and connect a variety of high activity spaces including nature play areas, garden terraces, and smaller river overlooks with framed views beyond. A network of smaller, more intimate paths weave through this beautiful, natural landscape. For a more direct route, the primary bike path gracefully winds from one end of the park to the other, creating a seamless, unifying thread. The central core of the park is defined by sculptural topography that brings the river bank up into the central eco-lawn and gradually rises to a viewing hill with places to sit and enjoy the landscape beyond. 

Here are the elements of the Option 1, Winding Paths design as numbered on the plan above (click to enlarge): 

1. Main Plaza / Overlook 

2. Viewing Hill 

3.  Nature Playground 

4. River Overlook 

5. Pedestrian Paths 

6. Potential Kayak Access 

7. Existing Water Feature 

8. Improved DeFazio Bridge Connection 

9. Peter DeFazio Bridge 

Design Option #2: Urban Amphitheater 

Dramatic wide-open views begin at the main entry plaza where you will be perched above the river rushing below. The water feature flows from the nature play area along the plaza’s edge and down to the river. This unifying element provides endless opportunities to interpret stories of the mill race, the site’s history, and sustainable practices. 

The central activity zone is defined by the urban amphitheater that will provide unique upriver views and accessible access down to the river’s edge. Along its edges, the amphitheater blends into the restored riverbank, shaded by the riparian canopy overhead. Walking along the shared bike/pedestrian path, you will find a series of smaller river viewpoints offering views of the river below. 

Here are the elements of the Urban Amphitheater Design as numbered on the plan above: 

1. Main Plaza 

2. Water Feature 

3. Nature Playground 

4. Eco-Lawn 

5. Amphitheater 

6. River Viewpoint 

7. Potential Kayak Access 

8. Performance Plaza 

9. Improved Defazio Bridge Connection 

10. Peter DeFazio Bridge 

Design Option #3: River Terraces 

The viewing deck offers great views on both sides. While sipping coffee from the adjacent café, you can enjoy views to the river and people-watch on the main plaza. During the summer months, the plaza is alive with activity and the shade pavilion offers protection from the sun while families enjoy the nature play area. 

A shared bike/pedestrian path arcs across the length of the park connecting each end. Mirroring the flow of the path and the bend of the river, a series of river terraces create a central activity zone. The terraces step down to provide a dynamic sequence of river views while offering accessible routes to the river’s edge. Demonstration eco-gardens encourage pollinator species. 

Here are the elements of the River Terraces Design as numbered on the plan above: 

1. Main Plaza / Water Feature 

2. Nature Playground 

3. Viewing Deck 

4. Shade Pavilion 

5. River Terraces 

6. Eco-Gardens 

7. Potential Kayak Access 

8. Eco-Lawn 

9. Improved Defazio Bridge Connection 

10. Peter DeFazio Bridge 

What are my immediate reactions to the concepts? Design Option 1: Winding Paths appears too naturalized for what is Eugene’s best opportunity to connect in an urban way with the Willamette River. Design Option 2: Urban Amphitheater places too much emphasis upon a single park feature, so the range of places to engage the river in different ways is limited. I prefer Design Option 3: River Terraces because I believe it has the potential to offer a variety of experiences within a recognizable and unique (to Eugene) framework. As presented by Walker Macy, River Terraces acknowledges the linear nature of the park and the dynamism of the river as it turns northward at its bend. I can imagine the terraces providing well-distributed means to manage and treat storm runoff. Design Option 3 also makes generous room for riparian habitat (as opposed to Option 2, which would appear to rely upon significant revetments along the edge of the amphitheater). 

The City is quick to point out the final design could incorporate elements from all three concepts. That said, I think each design option represents a distinct direction that risks being muddied if Walker Macy is compelled to blend aspects of two or more. 

All three options imply a new pedestrian bridge upstream of the existing DeFazio Bridge (the dashed line crossing the river). If it does move forward, perhaps the new bridge could be the outcome of an open design competition. 

The City is planning a final public forum in late September in which it will present Walker Macy’s final design for the Downtown Riverfront Park. Actual construction of the park will begin in 2020, with completion scheduled for 2021 before the IAAF World Track & Field Championships, when Eugene will play host to thousands of visitors and occupy the world stage, if only for a moment. I’m looking forward to the park taking shape and the Willamette River becoming truly central to Eugene’s sense of identity.