Rasor Park

Natural Setting

Located next to the Willamette River in Eugene's River Road neighborhood, Rasor Park spans 10 acres of natural landscape. The City of Eugene acquired this peaceful retreat in the 1970s as part of the broader Willamette Greenway initiative.

Back in 2001, the city finalized a Master Plan for the park, but not before gathering input from hundreds of local residents through community design workshops - a true collaborative effort to shape this natural space.

West Bank Path passes through the park along its eastern edge along the Willamette River

Photo: Chris Phan (CC BY 2.0)

Ecological Zones

Walk through Rasor Park and you'll encounter several distinct ecological areas, each with its own character. At the north end, you can find a small but charming oak woodland where Oregon white oaks stand alongside Douglas-fir, big-leaf maple, and Pacific madrone trees. Native shrubs like snowberry dot the understory.

This woodland isn't just pretty - it's a crucial habitat for local birds and wildlife that call this urban oasis home.

Meandering along the river's edge, a narrow riparian forest corridor features mature cottonwoods, big-leaf maples, and Oregon ash, mixed with some non-native trees and shrubs. The Friends of Rasor Park have partnered with the City of Eugene to restore and expand this riverside zone by planting native species - a labor of love for this community greenspace.

View of the north entrance into the park

Photo: Chris Phan (CC BY 2.0)

Meadows and Restoration

The heart of Rasor Park unfolds in meadows that once thrived as oak savanna - an open grassland punctuated with widely-spaced Oregon white oaks and ponderosa pines. While the landscape has evolved over the decades, recent restoration efforts have focused on bringing back some of the native plant communities that historically defined this area.

These restoration projects include planting young oak and pine trees, as well as native wildflowers like camas and wild iris that add splashes of color when in bloom.

Recreation and Conservation

If you're looking for a quiet place to connect with nature within the city, Rasor Park is an excellent option. This natural area balances low-impact recreation opportunities with wildlife habitat preservation and ongoing ecological restoration.

As part of Eugene's West Bank Riverfront Park System, Rasor Park's location along the Willamette River connects it to the city's green network - a place where conservation and community enjoyment come together.