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Input sought for future of Bear Creek Greenway By Vickie Aldous Updated: Aug 23, 2022 03:32 PM A A Andy and Halie Peplinski walk along the Bear Creek Greenway at Blue Heron Park in Phoenix. [Jamie Lusch / Mail Tribune] Online meetings, survey open to public More than 2,200 people answered a spring survey about the future of the Bear Creek Greenway, and officials hope just as many will respond during the second round of public input. “During the first round, we got a very, very robust amount of public input and comments. We hope we get the same amount to help us prioritize what’s important for the public,” said Jackson County Roads and Parks Director Steve Lambert, who is helping to lead the Envision Bear Creek project. A new online survey available through Sept. 18 gives people a chance to rank their priorities for the paved path and surrounding natural area that stretches from Ashland to Central Point. They can also say whether they would support more spending on the Greenway. Two online open houses are scheduled, from noon to 1 p.m. and 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, with live Spanish interpretation at the evening event. To learn more about the project, how to take the survey and how to join the online open houses, see envisionbearcreek.com . During the spring survey, 90% of respondents said they were concerned about safety. They cited issues with crime, drug use, trash and encampments of homeless people along the Greenway. Maintenance issues were a concern for 60% of respondents, with smaller percentages wanting improvements like water fountains and restrooms, better access to the path from surrounding communities and eradication of invasive species such as blackberries. The new survey asks people to select the improvements that would help them feel safer while using the Greenway. Options are increased lighting, more work to control vegetation and improve visibility, improved sanitation including trash pickup, an increased law enforcement presence, rangers or other staff providing support along the trail, and more people using the Greenway for recreation and transportation. A Trail Ranger Program would have paid staff to provide a safety presence, information and directions about the trail and other help to the public. An increased law enforcement presence would mean more officers along the trail, similar to Medford Police Department’s Livability Team. Launched in 2019, the Livability Team uses a mix of enforcement and outreach to address concerns such as homelessness. Their work ranges from arresting people for crimes and clearing homeless camps to helping people get housing and connecting them to addiction treatment and mental health care. People taking the survey can say whether they would support a Trail Ranger Program, more law enforcement presence, neither or they need more information. According to information provided during the survey, the Bear Creek Greenway is managed under an agreement between Jackson County and the cities of Central Point, Medford, Talent, Phoenix and Ashland. Each community contributes a set amount to cover basic operational costs, and the county also uses State Highway Fund money and a small amount of donations. Annual spending has averaged $347,000 per year between 2018 and 2021. That level of funding doesn’t cover extras like trail rangers, more law enforcement presence, expanding the length of the trail or controlling vegetation away from the trail. The survey asks people whether they would be willing to contribute financially for an increased level of service along the Greenway. They can say whether they would support a new district to manage and operate the Greenway. It would be similar to the Jackson County Library District, which was approved by voters and uses increased property taxes to pay for services. Survey respondents also can say whether they want the five cities and Jackson County to increase spending on the Greenway. The survey asks people to rate their priorities on maintenance and improvement work, including pavement repair, cutting back vegetation encroaching on the trail, managing vegetation along Bear Creek, installing lighting, putting up signs with directions, building restrooms, adding trash cans, extending the Greenway and making more connections to trails, parks, bike paths on streets and business areas. Lambert said he hopes partners on the project will have a proposed plan by the end of the year that they can take around to the different jurisdictions for review. The team needs to see how members of the public rank their priorities before developing cost estimates, he said. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.