Rasor Park

Rasor Park is a 10-acre natural area located on the banks of the Willamette River in the River Road neighborhood of Eugene, Oregon. The park was acquired by the City of Eugene in the 1970s as part of the establishment of the Willamette Greenway. In 2001, a Master Plan for the park was completed with input from hundreds of area residents through design workshops.

The park comprises several distinct zones, each with its own ecological characteristics. The north end features a small oak woodland, home to Oregon white oaks, Douglas-fir, big-leaf maple, and Pacific madrone trees, as well as native shrubs like snowberry. This woodland provides habitat for various bird species and other wildlife.

Along the river, a narrow riparian forest corridor includes mature cottonwoods, big-leaf maples, Oregon ash, and various non-native trees and shrubs. The Friends of Rasor Park and the City of Eugene have undertaken efforts to restore and expand this riparian zone through native tree and shrub plantings.

The central area of Rasor Park consists of meadows that were historically oak savanna – a grassland dotted with widely-spaced Oregon white oaks and ponderosa pines. While the site has undergone various changes over time, recent restoration efforts have aimed to reestablish some of the native plant communities, including the planting of oak and pine trees, as well as native wildflowers such as camas and wild iris.

Rasor Park serves as an important natural area within the urban environment, offering opportunities for low-impact recreation, wildlife habitat, and ecological restoration. The park's location along the Willamette River and its inclusion in the West Bank Riverfront Park System make it a valuable component of Eugene's green spaces.