Navigation Center News

Posted on March 2, 2026 by Gary Haliski

From the Navigator Center February Newsletter:

Community Engagement

The Navigation Center remains committed to serving not only our unhoused neighbors but the broader Lane County community. To better support nearby residents and businesses, we have strengthened our coordination with several City of Eugene partners to help address trespassing, safety concerns, and crime reporting.

Our expanded partnerships now include the Public Space Team from the Planning and Development Department, the City of Eugene Business Liaison, the EPD Community Engagement Team, and the Housing and Homeless Strategist from the Eugene Chamber of Commerce and ACT Now Lane.

These collaborations have provided valuable insight as we refine program policies and deepen our community engagement efforts, ensuring that both our residents and our neighbors feel heard, supported, and safe.

Another positive highlight is the success of our Resident Volunteer Program. This initiative empowers Navigation Center residents to take responsibility for both their environment and the broader community. Resident volunteers routinely pick up litter in the surrounding neighborhood and use their connections to help deter trespassing on nearby properties. Their efforts have made a noticeable difference and reflect their commitment to offsetting the impacts of homelessness on the local area.

Upcoming Events

Community Advisory Committee: Tuesday 4/14 11:00 am

We welcome neighboring businesses and residents in the River Road area to join us for updates, conversation, and collaboration. This meeting is an opportunity to get to know our team, learn about ongoing efforts, and work together on solutions addressing homelessness in Lane County.

Open House: Wednesday 4/15 3:00pm

We will also be hosting an open house featuring visits from local and state elected officials.
Guests will have the opportunity to tour our facility, meet our team, and learn more about the impactful work happening at the Navigation Center and through our community partnerships.

For more information about the River Avenue Navigation Center, visit their website at https://www.esslanecounty.com/river-avenue-navigation-center

Posted in Houseless & Rest Stops, Public Safety, Social Justice | Leave a comment

Please donate to the Santa Clara Food Drive for FOOD for Lane County

Posted on February 21, 2026 by Gary Haliski

The Santa Clara Community Organization is hosting its third Green Food Drive to benefit Food for Lane County. A Green Food Drive is a digital drive of monetary donations in lieu of, or in addition to, a physical food donation.  Please make your donation today to help us ensure our neighbors have access to nutritious food to live healthy and active lives. You can donate here.

All funds donated on this page go directly to Food for Lane County. For every dollar donated, Food for Lane County can access and distribute two meals.

Food for Lane County is an equal opportunity provider.

Posted in General Interest | Leave a comment

Lane County Parks Seeking Applicants for Advisory Committee Vacancy

Posted on February 20, 2026 by Tim Foelker

Lane County Parks has an opening on its Parks Advisory Committee (PAC). The PAC advises the Board of County Commissioners on park needs of County residents and visitors regarding County park facilities. The committee recommends priorities for projects, including financial and operational development and acquisition.

The application window will be ending soon. Please apply now if you’re interested. Find out more about the PAC and download an application here:

https://www.lanecounty.org/government/county_departments/public_works/parks/parks_advisory_committee

Posted in General Interest, Government, Parks - Dog Parks, Public Safety, SCCF Hileman Stewardship | Leave a comment

SCCO Winter Newsletter arriving soon

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Gary Haliski

The winter newsletter should be arriving in your mailbox soon. If you want to take a sneak peek, you can see it here. There is a wealth of information available about the events scheduled through May, as well as the Santa Clara Schoolhouse restoration project. One of the items that comes up first is our annual SCCO Board elections on March 5th. Please join us for the elections – details to follow.

If you’d rather download the newsletter for a full size view, here is the link.

SCCO-Winter-2026-Newsletter-web

Posted in Education, Elections, Newsletter, Parks - Dog Parks, Santa Clara Community Foundation, Santa Clara Schoolhouse, SCCF Hileman Stewardship, SCCO Meetings | Leave a comment

Vandalism Reported at Santa Clara Park; Community Assistance Requested

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Gary Haliski

From the City of Eugene:

Over the past few weeks, Santa Clara Community Park has been targeted with multiple instances of vandalism, including stolen items and significant damage to property including:

  • Stolen bike racks
  • Fires were lit on benches, on the turf material, and in restrooms
  • Playground equipment removed and/or broken
  • Plantsare being stolen or torn out of the ground and damaged
  • Reckless driving on the lawn area between the entry and the parking lot
  • Signage stolen

City staff are currently assessing the extent of the damage and coordinating cleanup and repairs. This incident impacts a shared community space used by residents of all ages. Staff are also coordinating an increased presence at the park and working with other City departments to prevent further damage to this park.

The community can help by reporting any information that may help identify those involved. If you saw anything unusual in or around the park or have photos or information that may be helpful, please report it.

If you are witnessing vandalism occur, please report it to the Eugene Police Department by calling the non-emergency line at 541-682-5111.

In instances where vandalism isn’t actively happening, you can also report damage and vandalism by using the online reporting tool “Park Watch” by visiting eugene-or.gov/parkwatch. Remember – if it is an emergency or you are observing a crime in progress, please call 911.

Contact:
Brennan McCommon, Park Maintenance West Region Supervisor (AIC) 
541-682-4843 (office), 541-913-2959 (cell) or BMcCommon@eugene-or.gov

P.S. If you haven’t been to the park, give it a try. It is a wonderful place to visit with kids.
✨ Large playground with our TALLEST double slide yet!
✨ Restroom & parking lot
✨ Outdoor community gathering space & picnic shelter
✨ Open lawn & multipurpose field
✨ Sand play with water table
✨ Outdoor musical instruments 🎶
✨ A spray play feature (Not on until the weather warms up)

The park is located at 860 River Loop 2

Posted in Parks - Dog Parks, Public Safety, Santa Clara Community Park | Leave a comment