Giving the Gift of Play

November 7, 2018

Every city needs a hub; a central space where people can gather together and enjoy events, recreation, and entertainment. These spaces give a city life. They unite individuals and provide invaluable resources for all of its citizens. Whether they are cultural centers that signal a dedication to the arts, museums that highlight a community’s historic significance, or retail districts that showcase a city’s economic strength, the community spaces within a city convey a lot about its values. So the question is, what do we want Eugene’s community space to say?

Currently, Eugene lacks a central hub for community events and recreation. Rather than look at this as a weakness, we see this as an opportunity to capture the spirit of Eugene in a vibrant community center. 

Eugene is a city of athletes. For decades, collegiate and professional athletes from a wide range of sports have called Eugene home. This legacy is an important part of Eugene’s history and identity, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.

Most of Eugene’s athletes will not achieve international fame. They won’t sign endorsement deals or win major championships. They are everyday people who exemplify Bill Bowerman’s philosophy that, “If you have a body, you’re an athlete.” And they need space to play. Eugene’s sports facilities do not meet the current demand for gyms and fields. Youth and adult sports alike struggle to find adequate space for practices and games.

Civic Park will address Eugene’s need for sports and recreation facilities. It will alleviate some of the burden on the city’s overcrowded and over-scheduled gyms and fields and provide a place where athletes of all ages and abilities can reap the benefits of sports and recreation. 

It will also create a central hub that Eugene sorely needs. Civic Park will provide the community with a space to gather together and enjoy the shared experience of watching a local soccer game, enjoying a summer concert, or participating in a neighborhood festival. As a center of the community, Civic Park will capture the spirit of Eugene and demonstrate to its citizens and visitors alike that Eugene is a city that values community, health, and play!

You can help us give the gift of play to our community by supporting our Give Play campaign this holiday season. Beginning on Giving Tuesday (November 27th) and running through December 31st, we’ve scheduled a full line-up of events, contests, and giveaways to make this year’s campaign our best one yet! Check out the event calendar below for more details. Follow ECA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and sign up for our e-newsletter to get the latest campaign updates.  

 

Schedule of Events:

November 27 – Giving Tuesday

Celebrate this global day of giving by showing your support for Civic Park!

• Donate to ECA on Giving Tuesday and you’ll be entered to win an ECA prize pack or Off the Waffle gift card!
• Stop by Viking Braggot’s Southtowne Pub for their Pints for a Cause fundraiser. For every pint sold on Giving Tuesday, Viking Braggot will donate $1 to Civic Park.
• Host your own ECA fundraiser on Facebook. On Giving Tuesday only, Facebook and PayPal will match all contributions made to nonprofits via Facebook, up to $250,000 per nonprofit!

November 28 – December 2

• Receive a coupon for a free 16-ounce drink from The Human Bean when you donate to ECA.
• On November 29, stop by any Lane County Carl’s Jr. during the Carl’s Cares fundraiser! Carl’s Jr. will donate 50% of all food and beverage sales from local restaurants to Civic Park.

December 3 – 7

• Enter to win a gift basket from Heritage Distilling Company!

December 8 – 9

• Stop by MOD Pizza’s 29th Street location in Eugene on December 9th and support Civic Park. Bring this flyer in and MOD will donate 15% of your purchase to ECA!

December 10-14

• Celebrate Umpqua Dairy Week with ECA! All donors will be entered to win a prize basket from Umpqua Dairy featuring Umpqua merchandise and product coupons.
• Continuint this week, everyone who contributes to the campaign will also receive a coupon for a free 16oz beverage from The Human Bean!

December 15-16

• Donate to ECA this weekend and enter to win a special edition Lane United FC Civic Park jersey!

December 17-21

• CelebrateOff the Waffle Week with ECA! When you donate $10 or more, you’ll receive a $5 Off the Waffle gift card.
• Coffee coupons from The Human Bean continue! All donors to the Give Play campaign will receive a coupon for a free 16-ounce beverage from The Human Bean.

December 22-23

• Donate to ECA this weekend and enter to win a special edition Lane United FC Civic Park jersey!

December 24-26

• Merry Christmas!

December 27 – 31

• Off the Waffle giveaways continue! When you donate $10 or more, you’ll receive a $5 Off the Waffle gift card.
• All donors to the Give Play campaign will receive a coupon for a free 16-ounce beverage from The Human Bean.

December 31

• Ring in 2019 with ECA and Viking Braggot! Join us at Viking Braggot’s Southtowne Pub from 6-8PM for a Civic Park cocktail hour, followed by a countdown to the new year from 9PM – 1AM.