Efforts to redevelop the Civic Stadium site are underway, as the Eugene Civic Alliance is raising funds for a new sports complex.
Civic Stadium is the historic former home of the Eugene Emeralds (Short Season A; Northwest League). After the Emeralds moved to PK Park for the 2009 season, discussions ensued about how to redevelop the Civic Stadium site, with many arguing for the ballpark’s preservation.
However, a fire broke out at the facility in 2015, damaging it beyond repair. That ended any preservation talk for Civic Stadium, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008 but was delisted last spring. The Eugene Civic Alliance believes that there is a future for sports on the site, however, as the group is proposing a complex at the site.
As part of the proposal, the new Civic Park would host the Lane United Football Club of the Premier Development League. Kidsports would be involved in conducting youth sports at the site, which would also be used for adult recreational leagues.
Eugene Civic Alliance leaders are soliciting private donations, and are looking to see if Oregon lottery money could be in play. More from The Register-Guard:
The group is seeking donations from businesses, foundations and wealthy individuals but will accept donations from all residents.
“We know going out on a campaign like this that you need a very large percentage of the figure to come from a relatively small number of sources,” said Jon Anderson, the group’s board president. “But we also want to bring the whole community in … Even if it’s (a) $25 (donation), we want you to feel a part of it.”
As part of the push, the alliance is seeking $6 million in Oregon Lottery bond revenue during the coming state legislative session.
The alliance raised $4.5 million in private donations to buy the 10-acre property from the Eugene School District. The purchase occurred two months before four boys burned the historic wooden stadium to the ground in June 2015.
If the group reaches its fundraising goals, construction on the new complex could begin late this summer.
We took a closer look at Civic Stadium’s history in the aftermath of the 2015 fire. Our own Mark Cryan also visited the site as part of Baseball Across America tour in the summer of 2015.
Rendering courtesy Eugene Civic Alliance.
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