Eugene’s History of Giving to Parks

Support Eugene Parks Foundation

More than 100 years ago, the Hendricks family donated land that would become Eugene’s first public park. As parks and recreation have become an essential part of how we define our community, we have continued to build on our legacy of public support and partnership to get here.

Eugene now has 130 public parks, 50 miles of trails, over 4,000 acres of natural areas, and more than 6,000 recreation programs for all ages and abilities. While the City of Eugene excels at serving the public with its available resources, the needs of the community have outpaced its funding.

Established in 2004, the Eugene Parks Foundation has operated in a public-private partnership with Eugene Parks and Recreation. As an independent 501(c)(3) organization, the Foundation works to provide resources for special projects the City cannot fund, helping to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability or background, is able to enjoy Eugene’s parks and recreation services.