Save the Date: Civic Park Groundbreaking Celebration!

September 6, 2018

You’re invited to celebrate groundbreaking at Civic Park! Join us on Sunday, October 7th as we commemorate the beginning of Civic Park’s construction. To properly launch the construction of a facility as unique as Civic Park, this won’t be a run-of-the-mill groundbreaking ceremony. To carry-on Civic Stadium’s legacy as a hub for community events, we’re inviting everyone to take part in this special day!

The event will begin with a few words about Civic Park from ECA team members and community leaders. Don’t forget to bring your shovel! Following the commemoration of the site, everyone will have a chance to find a place on the site, dig in and help us ceremonially break ground on Civic Park!

After the official groundbreaking, kids will have a chance to dig for commemorative Civic Park coins. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from Most Wanted Espresso, Sweet Bay Shave Ice, and Red 5 Hot Dogs. There will also be music from Pedal Power music, community booths, and a chance to meet local athletes whose dedication to their community have made them “Civic Champions.” Learn more about these special guests below. Guests will also have the opportunity to submit ideas for items to include in a Civic time capsule that will be buried on the site later in the construction process.

We are thrilled to begin this new phase of the Civic Park project and we look forward to celebrating this exciting milestone with you. Play On!

Event Details:

Date: Sunday, October 7th

Time: 2:00 PM

Location: Civic Park, corner of 20th Street and Amazon Parkway

Transportation and Parking: Lane Transit District is offering free bus rides to and from the event via Route 24! Download your free bus pass here.  NOTE: Bus passes must be printed out, no digital versions will be accepted.

Valet bike parking will be available for the event courtesy of the Center for Appropriate Transport.

Parking is available at the Civic Park site through the Amazon Parkway entrance. Additional overflow is available in the South Eugene High School parking lot.

Additional Information: Bring your shovels!

 

Civic Champions

Mary Brorby – Mary Brorby is a Eugene native who lettered in three sports at the University of Oregon, volleyball, basketball, and softball. She is a member of the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Becky L. Sisley Award for female U of O athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to serving their community and supporting the University.

Over the past few decades, Mary has served the Eugene community in a wide range of roles. She was a member of the LaneCounty Parks Advisory Council, volunteer with the Egan Warming Center, and joined the committee to start a Hall of Fame program at Marist High School.

Nate Jaqua – Nate Jaqua is a retired professional soccer player from Eugene, Oregon. He played for South Eugene High School prior to being drafted by Major League Soccer’s, Chicago Fire, in 2003. He had brief stints with Toronto FC, LA Galaxy, Houston Dynamo, and Austrian club SC Rheindorf Altach from 2006 to 2008.  Jaqua finished his career with the Seattle Sounders, playing for the club from 2008 to 2011. He represented the U.S. in international matches on the U-18, U-20, U-23, and senior men’s teams.

Jordan Kent – Jordan Kent is the director of Jordan Kent Skills Camps and works as a sports news broadcaster for Comcast Sportsnet NW. The Kent Skills Camps is a summer program that provides children of any background or ability the opportunity to develop skills in a variety of sports, including football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and general speed and agility.

Kent was a three-sport athlete at the University of Oregon – in football, basketball, and track. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks and played wide receiver for three seasons in the NFL. He was recently inducted into the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mike Manley – Mike Manley has coached and been coached by some of Eugene’s top track and field personalities. As an athlete, Mike was coached by Bill Bowerman. He ran the steeplechase in the 1972 Olympics and won his event at the 1971 and 1975 Pan American Games.

Mike went on to teach at North Eugene High School and coached notable track and field athletes including Debbie Eide, Cathy (Twomey) Bellamy, Ken Martin, Brad Hudson, and Marla Runyon. As a masters’ athlete in 1982, Mike became the first American to run a sub-30 minute 5k and a 2:20 for the marathon.

Karen Meats – Karen Meats has worked to promote opportunities for girls to participate in sports since the 1960s. A former four-sport athlete at the University of Oregon (field hockey, basketball, track and field, softball), she is a member of the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame, the South Eugene High School Hall of Fame, and the Amateur Softball Association of America Regional Hall of Fame.

In 2018, South Eugene High School named their softball field in her honor. The south softball diamond at Amazon Park is also named for her. Karen coached many high school teams across the state of Oregon and officiated volleyball and softball games throughout the state. She continues to enjoy Eugene city-league volleyball, a pastime she has pursued since 1961!

Becky Sisley – Becky Sisley played a key role in shaping the women’s athletic program at the University of Oregon in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  She coached the women’s basketball (1966), field hockey (1967-1975), and softball (1966-1979). She served as the Director of Women’s Athletics from 1973 to 1979 and was Head of Undergraduate Physical Education from 1985 to 1991.

Becky has also been involved in Eugene’s community sports programs. She played Eugene city-league volleyball, was President of the Eugene Field Hockey Club, President of the Oregon Track Club Masters, Meet Director for the Hayward Classic, and Founder and Director of the Oregon Women’s Sports Leadership Network. She began competing in track and field as a masters’ athlete at age 49. She holds numerous national Masters’ records for javelin, high jump, triple jump, and heptathlon. She is a member of the USA Track and Field Masters Hall of Fame, the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Northwest Women’s Sports Foundation Hall of Fame. In 2000, the Becky L. Sisley award was established at the University of Oregon to recognize former U of O female varsity athletes for their accomplishments in the areas of professional career, community service, and support of the University.

Bev Smith – Beverly “Bev” Smith Is the Executive Director of Kidsports, a non-profit organization that gives more than 14,000 children the opportunity to play seven-core team sports throughout the year. From 2001 to 2009, Smith was head women’s basketball coach at the University of Oregon. As a member of the Oregon Women’s Basketball team, the Canadian native set multiple records and was named to the Kodak All American team in 1981 and 1982.

Smith played 12 years for the Canadian National Team, competing in the 1979, 1986 and 1994 World Championships, as well as the 1984 and 1996 Olympic games. She was head coach of the Canadian National Team from 1997-2001 and coached the team in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She is a member of the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, the American Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.

 

Special thanks to our event sponsor KEZI, and our partners, Jerry’s Home Improvement, CMS Crowd Management Services, Lane Transit District, Buck’s Sanitary Service