lane county fairgrounds

Fairgrounds to restrict public access

Sandra Townsend walks her dog at the Lane County fairgrounds daily, and she’s not the only frequent visitor to the sprawling complex near downtown Eugene.

People regularly walk and bike through, she said, and the sprawling parking lot is popular with parents teaching their kids how to drive. “I think a lot of people use this place,” she said.

But not everybody uses it appropriately.

Drug use, break-ins and other nuisances are a big problem at the 55-acre county-owned grounds, officials say.

So they’re going to close down access, although they recognize that locking up the public facility will keep out not just those who would abuse it, but everybody else, too.

Officials say that when events aren’t being held, the fairgrounds — called the Lane Events Center — is plagued by break-ins, vandalism, homeless campers, drug users and graffiti. At times, motorists have even used the huge parking lot for reckless driving, said Rick Reno, director of the center.

“We’ve had extensive damage … it seems to be escalating, where at least three of our facilities have been broken into on more than one occasion,” Reno told the Fair Board and Board of Commissioners at a recent meeting. “(There are) a lot of things that I wouldn’t talk about publicly, but just disgusting things that have happened.”

In addition to the annual Lane County Fair, the fairgrounds is home to entertainment events, meetings, festivals, catered functions and year-round exhibitions.

Located at 796 W. 13th Ave., the site is a popular cut-through because of its proximity to downtown, plus being surrounded on all sides by residential areas.

But that leads to security issues, Reno said.

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A Californian, living in Oregon now for 17 years. Lived in Guadalajara, Mexico for 10 years as a teenager. 23 years in Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Venice & Beverly Hills. Favorite job was the 3 plus years working for MGM/UA studio in their Television Syndication. So much fun, access to the studio to watch Knots Landing being made plus seeing all the stars on a regular basis, loved it*!* Also worked for the State of California, Dept. of Corporations, loved that job as well. Career was in credit and accounting for many years, always longing to open a shop of my own. The opportunity came in 1997. We, my husband and I opened a little antiques and collectibles shop in Hubbard, Oregon.We rented space at Aurora Antiques Mall & Oregon City Antiques Mall. Got the bug first from my parents who owned an antiques shop in New Orleans and the from my best friend, Sherri whose mom Audrey, owned a shop in Pasadena, California for many years. Going to the auctions and flea markets with her cemented my love for all things old and tattered. I dream of opening a shop again one day. For now I love to made things from old things , (my way of recycling, reusing and reducing).

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