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http://www.omniture.com --> Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend May 23, 2006 Wildflowers dot the landscape at Chrissy Park, 160 acres of open area off Cherry Lane owned by the city of Medford. (Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell) Meeting to discuss open spaces By Meg Landers Mail Tribune As new houses continue to creep up the flanks of Roxy Ann Peak, the city of Medford is developing a plan for keeping 160 acres of oak savannah as open space. Home to meadowlarks, butterflies and squirrels, the property was donated to the Medford Parks and Recreation Department in 1997 by resident Dorothy Whittle. Her conditions: that it remain parkland and that it be named after her dog, Chrissy. She told the Mail Tribune at the time that Chrissy often ran around the property and was "queen of the hill." Whittle died in 2000. "It's going to be a nice large open space," said City Councilman Greg Jones, who was parks director at the time of the donation. "Sometimes I think people don't appreciate open space for what it is." Parks director Brian Sjothun said that with rapid growth in the southeast area, it's time to look for possible uses for the park. Located alongside Cherry Lane near Hillcrest Road, the property is outside of city limits and Medford's urban growth boundary. The property is hilly, with madrone and oak trees as well as native grasses and poison oak. Nearby is the city's largest park, Prescott, spanning 1,740 acres on Roxy Ann. The Medford Lion's Club donated 200 acres to the city in 1930, and the city later purchased much of the remaining acreage from the U.S. government for recreational purposes. Prescott Park is also outside the city limits. Prescott and Chrissy parks represent the largest two land donations the city has received, Sjothun said. Jones said at the time of the donation, several ideas were bounced around for possible park development. "The original thought on it was that it would be ... equestrian trails and walking trails, basically some picnic type areas and play equipment around the parking lot," Jones said. Steep terrain likely will prevent something as large as a soccer field from being part of the plan, he said. For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 774-2400 or e-mail [email protected]. Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy