The Eugene City Council rejected a proposal to spend $200,000 on Civic Stadium, saying tight budgets and the lack of a solid financial plan to save the historic facility make an investment imprudent at this time.
The preservationist group Save Civic Stadium, with the support of two councilors, had hoped to secure two $100,000 payments to rent the ballpark while a preservation plan is completed. Two other proposals from a developer and the local YMCA would pay the local school district, which owns Civic Stadium, more than $200,000 annually.
The proposal failed on a 5-3 vote.
The school district, which owns the ballpark site, has been debating the future of the WPA-era Civic Stadium for years now. The former home of the Eugene Emeralds (short season A; Northwest League) and Pacific Coast League baseball is now unoccupied with the move of the Ems to PK Park, and the school system, facing budgetary issues, put the ballpark site out to bid. There were three respondents: developers looking to build a new Fred Meyer store, the local Y, and Save Civic Stadium, which wants to see the ballpark converted for use as a soccer facility.
Civic Stadium is on our list of Endangered Ballparks.
RELATED STORIES: Developer: We’ll move Civic Stadium if that’s what it takes; Eugene residents: Save Civic Stadium; Another option emerges for Civic Stadium: strip mall!; Developers withdraw plan to renovate Civic Stadium; future of ballpark in doubt; Eugene School Board puts Civic Stadium on the market; Glickman to assist in Civic Stadium preservation effort ; Eugene debates future of historic Civic Stadium; Group proposing renovation of Civic Stadium
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