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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 30, 2005 Jefferson Nature Center finds new home The city plans to lease part of the Medford Sports and Community Park to the group By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune After functioning for two years without a home, the Jefferson Nature Center is about to set down roots in Medford’s new sports park. "It’s very exciting," said Susan Cross, Jefferson Nature Center director. "We’re really looking forward to finally being able to do some work there." The Medford City Council is scheduled to approve a 10-year lease of property within the Medford Sports and Community Park to the Jefferson Nature Center during its noon meeting Thursday. The Parks and Recreation Department will pay for sewer, water and electricity service to the site and the Jefferson Nature Center will pay for improvements and development of an existing building and site, once estimated at $115,000. "It’s a good organization. It’s a good fit," said Brian Sjothun, parks and recreation director. He said it’s nice to have one element of the park moving forward, especially when it doesn’t require finding money to make it happen. Advertisement Merlin McDaniel, design and construction manager, said roads and utilities will have to be put in before the center can open, but the nature center could probably begin construction using the existing road. Cross said even though she’s not ready for busloads of children, there’s plenty to do. "Probably some of the very first things we’ll do is some fund raising," she said, adding that she’s planning work parties to clean up the site. She said the Jefferson Nature Center, which has been offering natural history school programs for two years on such topics as mammals, amphibians and ethnobotany, has funding for programming, but not for the renovation of the building it will occupy. If approved, the nonprofit will use a vacant farmhouse on the property as its center, and a few acres around it for gardens and wildlife habitat. The organization would offer an interpretive center and natural history education about the region to residents, tourists and students. Through things like community projects, the center would help restore the area around Bear Creek, which runs through the sports park. About 70 of the park’s 132 acres are in a creekside environment known as a "riparian zone." Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail Jefferson Nature Center finds new home ">[email protected] . About the Medford sports park The Medford Sports and Community Park is on 132 acres that was the former Heitcamp farm. It’s on Highway 99 across from Southern Oregon Nursery and behind the former Starlite Drive-In Theatre property. The city bought the property through revenue bonds (purchased with an increased hotel/motel tax) in 2002. About $500,000 was left over from the purchase of the property, which has gone to paying for site preparation and infrastructure, as well as the hiring of a design and construction manager, Merlin McDaniel. In June the Medford City Council approved a 5 percent tax on airport car rentals. Money raised with the car-rental-tax increase will pay for a $5.3 million, 20-year bond to build ballfields at the park as well as a gym at the Santo Community Center. The city hopes to sell bonds in the spring. The parks department has formed a foundation for the park, through which it is nearly ready to receive donations. Also, naming rights are available for help in building park amenities, such as a championship soccer field. The Harry & David Field, to replace Miles Field, is under construction inside the sports park. It’s being managed by the Medford Youth Baseball Society, and is funded by $3.2 million granted from the county, donations and in-kind contributions from the community. The first game on the new field is scheduled for mid-March. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s