A new park, Wild Iris Ridge, will be the newest addition to Eugene’s Ridgeline Trail system.
Kelly Darnell with the City of Eugene says there have not been a lot of nature opportunities in the southwest area of town, where the new trail was built.
“What’s unique about Wild Iris Ridge Park is it’s really a great example of native prairie and oak habitats and we have a beautiful 1.3 mile trail through the site that was really designed to move people through various habitats and offer a really unique experience year round.”
The park features plant and wildlife species that are extremely rare to the Willamette Valley, and is home to original oak and prairie habitat from the 1850’s.
The property was acquired over a couple of years, partly through park bond measures, as well as funding from the U.S. Forest Service Legacy Program.
The 250 acre parcel was previously privately owned.
The 1.3 mile trail is a shared use trail; which means bikers, hikers, and runners can all use it.
