Golden Gardens Park Outdoor Sports Complex Proposal

Features and Benefits

Golden Gardens is a 223-acre public park located in northwest Eugene, just over four miles from Eugene Airport. At present, the site includes walking trails, former farmland fields, and artificial quarry ponds. The City of Eugene is pursuing development of a sports complex that could feature:

• 14 sports fields
• 3 full-size baseball fields
• 5 softball/baseball fields
• 6 soccer/football/lacrosse fields
• Sports courts for pickleball, basketball, and sand volleyball
• A neighborhood park
• 160+ acres dedicated to habitat conservation, including trails
• Parking for more than 1,000 vehicles distributed across the facility
• Concession buildings, food truck parking, restrooms, and lighting

The community has an urgent need for an outdoor sports complex offering enough fields and sport variety for youth, adult, and professional teams to practice and compete. In addition to filling that gap, the complex could generate revenue by hosting football, soccer, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, softball, and baseball competitions throughout the year.

The facility would accommodate practices as well as competitions, and it could potentially serve as the training base for Lane United FC’s men's and women's United Soccer League (USL) teams.

For the future of Golden Gardens Park in west Eugene, the City of Eugene has prepared a carefully considered recommendation. Reconciling neighborhood needs, natural resources, and the strong demand for outdoor recreation and play space is difficult. City staff and their consulting team have produced an exciting balance that reflects a deep understanding of the project’s importance to the neighborhood.

Golden Gardens Sports Complex Draft Concept

Economic & Neighborhood Benefits

Golden Gardens would expand recreational access in the underserved Bethel neighborhood while adding valued natural areas and community activities. This major investment could also help families and neighbors connect through support offerings such as childcare and after-school activities. Comparable examples include Willamalane’s afterschool program, Capital Futbol Club’s GRASSP and TOPSoccer, and Friday night Futsal with Rogue X and Southern Oregon Futsal.

Medford, Oregon is home to the largest municipal installation of FieldTurf in the United States, with nearly 1.5 million square feet of synthetic grass at the Lithia & Driveway Fields complex. The facility opened in May of 2008 at a cost of $32 million. It has hosted over 47,000 youth games and produced over $160 million in economic impact. In 2023, the complex generated close to $12 million.

The 132-acre park contains three full-sized baseball fields, seven softball/baseball fields, and five soccer/football fields. Its 2023 calendar included adult softball, youth baseball, senior softball, fastpitch, soccer, youth fastpitch, and additional events. FieldTurf allows the outdoor sports facility to host events every month of the year, avoiding a rain- or mud-related seasonal shutdown despite its Oregon location.

Community assets of this kind frequently stimulate further private investment. Sports fields can attract coffee shops, restaurants, and other businesses, as demonstrated by development near Lithia Driveway Fields in Medford and AdventHealth Sports Park in Overland Park.

Identified Need

Golden Gardens Park was identified as early as 2006 as a potential site for a program addressing the sports needs of a growing population. In 2016, a jointly funded service study conducted by the City of Eugene Parks and Open Spaces, Willamalane, and Travel Lane County confirmed the need for additional outdoor recreation and sports facilities.

The 2018 City of Eugene Parks bond included sports fields for development. Because the bond no longer has funding available, however, the project’s buildout remains uncertain. Some projections place park completion as late as 2035, nearly 30 years after the need was initially identified.

Image Courtesy City of Eugene

The Solution

Golden Gardens Park’s outdoor sports complex offers a way to better meet local youth and adult outdoor recreation needs while bringing visiting groups to the area throughout the year.

The newest Golden Gardens design also creates an opportunity to protect healthy habitat while serving the community. Design responses to concerns regarding the Western Pond Turtle include moving the walking path away from breeding areas, selecting appropriate synthetic surfaces for the athletic fields, and placing basketball and pickleball courts, parking, and other amenities strategically around the site’s perimeter.

Get Involved

Travel Lane County, local sports event organizers, coaches, teams, and area businesses can work with City staff and City Council by offering project support and feedback. Collective involvement can help advance the project. Input may be provided by:

• Emailing the Eugene City Manager, Mayor and City Council
• Attending a Eugene City Council meeting and testifying
• Sharing project information with family and friends on social media

Contact Us

Questions or requests for additional information about sports facility development in Lane County may be directed to:

J.B. Carney
Vice President, Destination Sales and Services
JB@EugeneCascadesCoast.org

J.B. leads the convention, sports and travel trade sales and services program. His work drives overnight visitation through strategic market development and a high-performing team. He manages the sales pipeline from initial prospecting through booking and helps events succeed from advance planning through on-site execution.

Stay Informed

Progress updates about the project are available through the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission newsletter.