For several days in mid-January, 2024, Eugene was brought to a near stand still as freezing rain followed by freezing temperatures paralyzed the city and wreaked havoc on trees and power lines.
Damage in Hendricks Park was limited primarily to the forested-areas of the park, as damage to the garden areas was relatively light. Clean up in the gardens consisted mostly in removing broken limbs from oak trees.
In the forest, a number of trails had to be cleared, leaving chainsawed passages through downed fir trees. Emily Steele, head forest manager for the park, has indicated that many of the downed fir trees will be salvaged for timber later this year. Some damage was incurred to the park’s nursery, as seen below. Photos by Paul Lewis and Rachel Foster.
