Golden Gardens Park Input Needed

The City of Eugene is inviting community members, local stakeholders, and leaders to join a public meeting on Wednesday, November 13, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Prairie Mountain School to discuss the Golden Gardens Park Master Plan. This is a significant opportunity for you to share your thoughts and help shape the future of this important project.

Several options for the park and sports fields have been refined into a final draft. Our region currently lacks sufficient sports facilities for both youth and adults, and this project will address that need, while also creating opportunities for year-round community events and economic growth. Hosting tournaments and other gatherings will not only benefit local families but also welcome visitors, helping to build a stronger, more connected community. For a complete list of benefits to highlight in your feedback, please visit Golden Gardens Park Benefits.

If you’re unable to attend, you can still be involved by completing a survey.  Additionally, your support for this project can be shared directly with the Eugene Mayor and City Council by emailing them your thoughts.

Your input is invaluable, and together we can build a future where access to recreational spaces supports the health and vitality of our entire community.

Guest Writers Wanted

Travel Lane County is looking for local writers and content creators to help us highlight arts & culture and accessible, sustainable and inclusive experiences in our communities that represent a diversity of stories, perspectives and voices.

Writers will be compensated and should have a portfolio of work to share, as well as ideas of visitor-friendly places, people and experiences to spotlight on the Eugene, Cascades & Coast website.

If interested, please fill out our content creator form.

Time to Update Your Lodging Property Listing 

It’s time to make sure your lodging property is included in the 2025-2026 Official Travel Oregon Visitor Guide. Printed annually, the guide is the only statewide print piece of comprehensive lodging listings. Any transient lodging property in Oregon that pays the statewide 1.5% lodging tax is eligible for a free basic listing in the printed guide as well as a listing on traveloregon.com. Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) manages the lodging database used to feed both directories.

Properties are required to update/verify their existing listing or submit a new lodging listing to ORLA by November 22, 2024, for inclusion in the guide.

Questions? Please contact ORLA at Listings@OregonRLA.org

Inclusion & Diversity

Heceta Beach Mobi-Mats to be Extended

Lane County Parks, with the support of Travel Lane County and the Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA), is extending the Mobi-Mats at Heceta Beach Park. Located next to Driftwood Shores Resort, this Mobi-Mat provides a smooth, stable surface from the parking area to the beach, offering easier access for people who use mobility devices, families with strollers, and anyone seeking an easier walking path.

The extension will allow visitors to get even closer to the surf, and the addition of a turnaround/viewing area will significantly improve the overall experience. This project reflects our community’s commitment to creating welcoming, accessible spaces for all.

Hult Center Adds Hearing Loops 

The Hult Center for the Performing Arts, with funding support from Travel Lane County, has expanded its accessibility features by adding additional hearing loops at the box office and concessions areas. These loops enhance the experience for guests using hearing aids, ensuring more inclusive access to the arts.

For more information on how hearing loop technology can improve accessibility for your guests, please contact Connor Nolan, Travel Lane County Destination Development Manager. This initiative highlights our region’s dedication to making arts and culture spaces more welcoming and accessible for all members of our community.

Member News

Alesong Tops List 

Congratulations to Alesong Brewing & Blending for bringing home two medals and being named the Brewery of the Year in their size category at the Great American Beer Festival. 1,900 breweries participated and 9,000 beers were judged!  

Maximize Your Member Registration is Open

Get the most out of your Travel Lane County membership! Come and join us for hot cocoa and cider and the chance to hear from the Travel Lane County leadership team on our focus areas and how to get more involved! 

This event will be held at the Travel Lane County Visitor Center, at 754 Olive Street in downtown Eugene, on Thursday, November 14 at 4:30 p.m. 

Space is limited. Reserve your spot today!

Tourism Academy Accepting Applications

Discover how the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy can elevate your career and enhance your leadership skills. This year-long program offers in-depth learning and networking opportunities to develop essential skills, enhance self-awareness, and become a champion for the hospitality industry. Join us for this transformative learning and experience firsthand how this program can shape your future. Learn more and apply by November 20 at www.OregonRLA.org/OTLA.

LTD Wins Award & Implements Service Enhancements

Lane Transit District (LTD) collaborated with Turell Group in earning high honors in the public transportation industry, winning the Grand Award for “Best Marketing and Communications on Workforce Development.” The recruitment campaign already won two first place awards in the 2024 AdWheel competition in February. These awards recognize the marketing and communications efforts of the members of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). 

LTD increased service hours by 8% this fall, making it more convenient to for residents and visitors to access destinations throughout the region. Check the latest bus schedules to learn more.  

Travel Lane County Board Welcomes New Members

The Travel Lane County board of directors welcomed Alyssa Gomez, owner of Sweet Springs Family Farms as a representative south Lane County. Also joining the board as an ex-officio members, are Georgia Haskell who is the Executive Director of the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce and John Hamilton from the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Registration is Open for the 2024 Holiday Party 

Travel Lane County's member holiday party will be paired with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on Thursday, December 5 at the Holiday Inn Express on Kruse Way. We are excited to co-sponsor this event with Mereté Hotel Management.

Register today! 

Oppose Measure 118

Measure 118 will result in businesses closing, budget issues for the state and higher costs for consumers. Additionally, there's nothing that prohibits the Legislature from changing how the $6.8 million in estimated taxes (in the first year) are used. Join Travel Lane County in opposing Measure 118 and share this information with your family, friends and neighbors. 

County Grants Deadline Approaches

Lane County’s Community & Economic Development (CED) Grant Program opened in early October for qualified 501c3 nonprofits and cities that serve Lane County. Applications are due at noon on Nov. 6, 2024. The CED Grant Program guidelines and application will be available on the County’s BIDS Notices webpage: Bids, RFPS, RFQs, Notices - Lane County

 Please email questions to the CED Manager, Jason Harris, at Jason.Harris@lanecountyor.gov.

Travel Oregon Grants 

Travel Oregon’s 2024-2025 Competitive Grant program is designed to increase access and equity for those who may have experienced barriers to visiting our great state — whether by better addressing various mobility challenges or celebrating the diversity of people and communities who live in and travel to Oregon.

The total funding available for this grant cycle is expected to be $5.2 million. Read the grant guidelines to see eligibility requirements, funding parameters and application questions.