sport
Eugene Expands Sports Facilities Venues and Infrastructure Supporting Sport Locally
The city council approved $14 million in upgrades to athletic venues across Eugene to meet rising demand from local clubs and university programs.
How we reported this
Eugene city officials approved a $14 million capital plan on July 9 to renovate three aging sports venues and add new training infrastructure at sites near the Willamette River.
The vote came after participation in organized youth and adult sports climbed 22 percent between 2023 and 2025, according to Parks and Recreation Department figures, pushing existing fields and tracks past capacity during peak seasons.
Work will begin this fall at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus, where the east grandstand will receive new seating and lighting, and at the Bethel Community Sports Park on Roosevelt Boulevard, where two synthetic turf fields will replace worn grass surfaces used by the Eugene Youth Soccer Association.
Engineers also plan a 1,200-square-foot strength and conditioning annex behind the existing track at the Riverfront Sports Complex on 1st Avenue, a project expected to serve both high-school athletes and the Lane County Track Club.
Funding and timeline details
The package draws from a 2024 voter-approved parks bond that set aside $9 million for athletic facilities plus $5 million redirected from hotel-tax revenue collected in 2025. Construction bids close August 15, with most work scheduled for completion by June 2027.
City records show the Bethel fields currently host 180 weekend games each spring; the new surfaces are projected to add 60 additional slots without extending the season into summer heat.
Residents can review detailed site plans and submit comments through the city’s online portal until July 28, after which the Parks and Recreation Department will hold a single public meeting at the downtown library on August 4.