Eugene's beloved recreational trail, Amazon Path, will be temporarily inaccessible to locals and visitors starting on Tuesday, due to the commencement of the Amazon Creek Restoration Project. The closure affects the stretch between 24th Avenue and 19th Avenue, but park-goers can still reach Amazon Park and the primary volleyball courts through the alternate routes provided by parking lot accesses and auxiliary pathways, as reported by an official announcement released by the City of Eugene. The restoration initiative is expected to conclude and reopen the path by early October.
For those familiar with the scenic pathway, the city has mapped out detours that include a temporary trail on the east side of Amazon Parkway leading to the new Kidsports facility, where path users will then cross the street, proceeding along the sidewalk while navigating around the construction site, the cyclists among them have the option to ride through the marked detours or stick to the established bike lanes on Amazon Parkway, offering a clear although roundabout passage during the restoration phase. According to the City of Eugene, the project will entail the removal of Amazon Creek's aged concrete channel, address the reconstruction of its natural slope, and the area will be reinvigorated with native plant species; moreover, a footbridge south of 20th Avenue will see renovation.
Project manager Sean Kovensky emphasized the inevitable yet temporary inconvenience the community will face, however, highlighting the eventual rewards of an enhanced and ecologically sound creek, "Although the path closure and periodic lane closures on Amazon Parkway will be inconvenient for the community, the outcomes of this project will provide a more pleasant and ecologically beneficial creek for all to enjoy", Kovensky expressed regarding the project's anticipated benefits, as per the City of Eugene. Funding for this environmentally-centric project has been assembled through a mix of sources, including a substantial $2.7 million in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, contributions from the 2018 Parks and Recreation Bond, the stormwater utility fund, and development charges.
