Wendover Park
Wendover Park (undeveloped)
At what seems like the edge of civilization at one of the northern most parts of the Eugene metro, you may stumble upon Wendover Park and the starkly new, out-of-place homes that sit across the street from it. One would not think of this narrow stretch of tangled grass and overgrown underbrush as a park if it weren’t for the “Park Rules” sign at the north end.
Santa Clara is uniquely characterized by a healthy mixture of farmhouses on orchards that have produced fruit for over a century, single-story homes reflecting post-war era architecture, and multi-story, miniature mansions built during the housing boom of the late nineties. This is easy to see on your way to Wendover Park, and observing the various neighborhood examples of recent history is far more interesting than the park itself. The park’s location provides a strange, but somehow pleasantly ragged contrast to the perfectly sculpted, matching houses standing side by side across the street. It is a blatant reminder that we are indeed at the edge of town, less than a mile from a family-owned U-Pick farm to the east and the vast farmlands of the Willamette Valley to the north.
Based on the complete lack of development in the park at this time, it seems the city’s acquisition of the land occurred around the same time the houses were constructed. Eventually, a playground and a few benches would be befitting as there are no play areas in the immediate vicinity.
To get there, take East Beacon Drive from River Road and take a right on Scenic Drive. Wendover Street is on the left, and the park is around the bend on the left side.
Article and photos by Lauren L. Zavrel