Laurelwood Golf Course
What Happened:
During the summer months, OTA was contacted by Eugene residents who live near Laurelwood Golf Course. They asked for help to address their concern that the golf course and public paths in and around the course were being sprayed with pesticides – lots of pesticides!
Nearby neighbors asked for OTA’s help because they had observed the following:
1. Excessive pesticide use and evidence of massive areas of plant die-off due to pesticides.
2. Burning sensation around the eyes and nose when walking on the Ribbon Path.
3. Deadened areas along drainage areas, culverts and other surface water pathways leading to natural wetlands, springs or Eugene’s storm water system.
4. The absence of any frog or insect sounds, something that neighbors look forward to in spring and summer months.
What Action Was Taken:
Executive Director Lisa Arkin went out there with neighbors to tour the area and collect photographic evidence. She was shocked by the magnitude of the pesticide dead zones! OTA created the report, “Non-Compliance with the INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT POLICIES OF EUGENE, OREGON” and in collaboration with many neighbors and the Amazon and Fairmont Neighborhood Organizations, gave presentations and made recommendations on August 3rd, 2011 to Eugene City staff. Click here for meeting notes.
Why is this Important:
Laurelwood Golf Course is a city-owned, public municipal golf course, not a private business. That means it is open for use to all including, families taking daddy to golf on Father’s Day, local middle school and high school golf teams practice, taking the kids to hit balls on the driving range on a summer afternoon, holding a birthday or wedding party at the club house, and more. Laurelwood also borders the backyards of many Eugene residents.
Furthermore, the larger area surrounding the golf course is a City of Eugene Natural Area and open space for walking and enjoying nature. The Ribbon Path winds its way around Laurelwood Golf Course. The area is also known for being home to frogs, bees, a variety of birds, deer, and other small wildlife. Its wetlands are part of the Amazon Creek Watershed.
People have the right to expect that they are safe from chemical trespass when they use public property. No parent should have to fear that their child will be exposed to a carcinogen, an neurotoxicant or an hormone disruptor when playing with them in a park [see the story by parent Ann Kneeland about her visit to Hendricks Park with her 18 month old son]
The City of Eugene has adopted four policies and established two commissions related to environmental protection, sustainability and human rights (see slides 2 – 4 of the Report). One of these policies is the City of Eugene Integrated Pest Management Policy (IPM). The City must carry out its policies on all city property, including Laurelwood Golf Course, even if the property is being leased or managed through a contract. The City has failed to do so in many of its parks and recreational facilities. OTA has documented other examples where the City failed to enforce its own IPM policy. In 2009, OTA reported on egregious violations of the IPM policy at Washington Park with our presentation to the Friendly Area Neighborhood Association (FAN) Violations of City of Eugene Integrated Pest Management Policies in Washington Park. [read the report] As a result FAN and the City agreed to work together to make Washington Park a pesticide-free park!
OTA’s goal is Safe Public Places! On behalf of the residents and visitors of Eugene, we ask for the following from our Eugene representatives and staff.
The City of Eugene must be accountable for:
1. Enforcing all city policies on all city properties.
2. Respecting and upholding the human right to be safe from chemical trespass from any government action.
3. Developing a safer and stronger environmentally-sound pesticide policy that does not expose children to pesticides when using any city facility or property.
4. Training all city employees in Integrated Pest Management, and encouraging city employees to use non-toxic products in a safe manner when carrying out city operations.
5. Upholding the principles of the Triple Bottom Line Analysis and Action: Environmental Health /Economic Prosperity/ Social Equity and Justice
