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Fund-raising for Medford sports park delayed By JILL BRISKEY Loren Swan hasn't given up his dream for the city's first sports park. Instead, the Medford resident and retiree decided to postpone his long-term goal for a short time and give Rogue Valley residents - along with the country - a chance to heal. Swan, president and executive director of the Medford Parks Foundation, had planned to kick off a major fund-raising effort in September. The group wants to raise money for a 124-acre sports park on Highway 99 across from the Rogue Valley Manor at the site of the old Starlite Drive-In cinema. In light of recent terrorist attacks on the East Coast, Swan said the foundation decided to delay its plans for one month, perhaps two. "It just wouldn't be appropriate," he added. "Everything is up in the air right now." In June of 2000, Medford's City Council agreed to purchase land for the sports park over a two-year period. The city retained the right to purchase the south Medford farm by making three option payments to the landowners, the Heitkamp family. The decision gives officials until March 2002 to come up with $4.8 million to secure the 124 acres straddling Bear Creek between Interstate 5 and South Pacific Highway. Swan said a recently formed parks foundation will raise and donate at least $1 million toward the purchase. Sen. Lenn Hannon was able to secure a $1 million grant for the park from state economic development funds. The city plans to contribute as well, through various fees and funds generated from a motel-hotel tax passed in June 2000. Swan spearheaded the effort to secure land and create a local sports park seven years ago when he realized the Rogue Valley had a shortage of practice fields. "This town really needs this facility," Swan said. "These kids need a place to play now." Tentative plans call for a six-diamond adult softball complex and various baseball fields built to just the right dimensions for Little League and Babe Ruth. It would also boast seven soccer fields, several covered basketball courts, not to mention a bike-racing velodrome. "The plan is not anchored in concrete," Swan said. "Everything isn't set." The first phase of construction would involve constructing a bridge across Bear Creek, Swan said. Swan said a user fee will eventually be charged to organized sports teams to help pay for park maintenance. Swan said he hopes to break ground next summer. He is already planning to expand the sports park once the first phase is complete. Tentative plans include construction of an event center, various shops, an aquatic center and installation of 45,000 parking spaces. For more information, contact the Medford Parks Foundation at 773-4444. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.