James Park - A Diamond in the Rough

4141 East 19th Ave. Eugene, Oregon 97403

Park Visit: Wednesday April 30, 2025 From 10:30-12:00PM

I feel like when I think of this park I see it glowing with a beautiful warm aura in my mind! 🫠 I don't know what the heck happened for me that day, in James Park, but I am left feeling like this is a special place. I will have to revisit and see if the magic is real or maybe I just had too many cups of coffee that morning! 🤣 It could be that it turned out so different than I had imagined, I am just stunned. This park has some BAD reviews online. Granted, the worst are pretty old, but I myself have seen a man O.D.ing on the street in this neighborhood... I was concerned about going to a park in this area alone with my kids. I was prepping my daughter on the way to James Park that we may not even get out of the car. I wasn't convinced it even had a playground and I was debating making it a "FREE" spot on the Park Bingo Card game if it didn't seem like a safe place. It appeared to be pretty secluded from the map. I was going to do a drive by and see how I felt about it.

I carry in my car, a Mag-Lite flashlight. I like the black 16" but check out this cute 12 incher in a pretty misty mint color! I think everyone should have one in their car. For one, light when you need it but also, a Mag-Lite is heavy as shit and will bust up someone pretty good if need be. I also have a whistle ( I like this one because it has a compass on it also, but a plain ol' whistle works just as fine) and pepper spray in my stroller at all times. Maybe this is false security, but better safe than sorry, eh?

James Park - Willamalane's FIRST land acquisition in 1944. Guess how much the 3 acres cost! Read on for more history.

It just so happened that there were Willamalane workers there leveling out the gravel driveway and parking lot when we showed up. So I made the quick decision to at least get out and explore. I wasn't able to pull down the long drive way because of the work. I parked right in front next to an old truck with a camper shell on it. Pulling in, things did not look great. The neighborhood isn't great and the park is secluded. As we walked in, we spotted a "traveler" and his dog napping in the sun, centered behind the baseball backstop. Surprisingly, rather than being off putting, it felt peaceful. The dog was quiet but alert, the man fidgeting but resting in the beautiful, pounding, full sun of a freshly spring day. My daughter made some comment about him sleeping on the ground and I said, "ahh, doesn't that look like a lovely place to take a snooze?" and it really did.

As you walk into the park you are enveloped into a whole new world. Since we came in the very front of the park, you see the entire 3 acres before you. The full sized baseball field is fenced and has benches, but not real dugouts, on either side. There are bleachers split behind the backstop. To the left seems to be an area where there could be or used to be a batting cage and a pretty cool OLD tree. There's a handful of storage sheds near the baseball field and a handicap accessible, amazingly clean porta potty.

To the right is a picturesque row of OLD and massive Douglas Fir trees lining the way towards the back of the park. We sat along the "dugout" benches here for our snack. Before long we heard the sound of the train coming! We had the picture perfect view of the train chugging past, through the Fir trees. It was very exciting for my kiddos to see and hear the train so close. There's something so nostalgic to me about the sound of the train rumbling by. It definitely added to the charm of the place.

Beautiful row of Douglas Firs. My girl is always loaded up with the snacks in her favorite backpack. Our quintessential view of the passing train.

SO beautiful! I CANNOT get over my babes hooded flannel and red high top checkered Vans.

It was exciting to spot the play ground through the baseball field, since I wasn't sure if there was one or not. We slooowwwwwly made our way past the big Firs and gravel parking lot to the far left hand corner of the park. As we passed the lot and headed towards the play structure I was struck by how beautiful this place is. Everything was super green and so peaceful (EVEN WITH the ground-shaking leveling machine running up and down the gravel road 🤣) I noticed the shade and variety of mature trees right away. It was SO green that day! There are massive Red Cedars, Bigleaf Maples, Douglas Firs, Dogwoods and Golden Chain trees. The variety and size of these beauties created such a visually striking canvas for the park. I want to come back with a picnic blanket and have lunch here under these beautiful giants for our next visit.

My kids were happy on the playground. It's a small, old, wooden structure with a super fun big metal slide at the fifth climbing platform. The bars are wide on all levels so safety for littles isn't great. It has an interesting curved climbing thing that gets you to the forth level of the small structure. There's a straight sliding pole. It looks like maybe there used to be a steering wheel. The baby swing and the big swing both have those annoying metal covers over the chains so they can't be swung over the top bar. There was a little graffiti/markings on the metal parts of the play-structure but nothing obscene. I grew up on wooden play structures like this one, so it's kind of nostalgic to find one. This back corner of the park abuts a trailer park. There's an access gate but it was extensively locked. The locks and the metal covers on the swings made me wonder again about safety. It did feel pretty secluded in the back corner where the playground is. However, I noticed a lot of traffic on Nugget Way which is clearly visible and runs behind Franz Bakery, parallel to the park. On one hand it was nice because it felt peaceful and almost like we had traveled back in time...On the other hand, I was thinking I probably wouldn't return here without a friend.

The basketball court is back next to the play ground and shaded by the trees. The hoop isn't adjustable and there is just one. There is no bench or trashcan in this area. However, this is the cleanest park we've visited yet. Not one single piece of trash. It looks like maybe there used to a be a sand pit. That would be sooo cool! I wish they'd fix it up and bring it back! It's totally shaded and would be such a nice cool place to play in on a hot summer day.

Sun poking through the trees. The basketball court. Old Sand pit?

I am really glad we visited James Park. Had the Willamalane workers not been there at our arrival I might not have stayed, so I am happy they were because this park truly is a Springfield gem, a diamond in the rough and worth a visit and a picnic! I'd encourage you to take the whole fam or go with a friend. On our way out we saw the cool old dedication plaque that has a date of 1954 on it. The James Park sign at the entrance of the park has a date of 1947 on it. This made sense to me. This land has a strong sense of energy to it. 💖 A feeling of history and nostalgia, it really does envelope you in a feeling of warmth and gave a sense of traveling back in time. Apparently, it was the first land acquired by Willamalane in 1944 for a whopping $10!

I learned that the Glenwood neighborhood has strong roots and history. It's an unincorporated area of Lane County sitting between the I-5 and the Willamette River, between Eugene and Springfield. You know, that beautiful double round about just over the bridge headed into Eugene from Springfield's Main Street, right by Roaring Rapids Pizza. These round a-bouts were phase 1 in a huge "refinement plan" for Glenwood, developed by the Springfield City Council. The area is defined as "within Springfield's urban growth area" and master planning for the development of the Glenwood neighborhood was passed over from Eugene to Springfield in 1998. A massive overhaul of the entire 1 square mile neighborhood is underway with a complete riverfront facelift and updated zoning regulations.

I was confused to see the address for James park listed as Eugene. Apparently, the area has Eugene addresses, Springfield phone numbers and falls within the Eugene school district. Very confusing. It seems that James Park will live on in the redevelopment (thank goodness!) of Glenwood, along with the Laurel Grove Pioneer Cemetery which has burials dating back to 1855. James Park is on the list for a complete redesign and update with costs expected to exceed a million dollars. It's listed as a high priority redevelopment and as of Willamalane's 2023 Comprehensive Plan has a completion timeline of 1-5 years. I hope they are able to keep the spirit alive here in the redesign and incorporate all of the beautiful old trees this park is home to!

From Springfield's "Glenwood Refinement Plan".

James park is 3 acres nestled between I-5 and the Willamette River, between Springfield and Eugene. It sits directly behind Franz Bakery between Franklin Blvd and Nugget Way, off of E 19th Ave near BRING Recycling.

I hope you have the chance to visit James Park and I hope you find it as special as I do. Let me know in the comments, can you feel that special vibe or is it just me? 🤪 If you liked this review give it a heart, would ya!? ❤️ Is there anything missing from these reviews? Let me know what kind of information would be most helpful for you in your park adventuring. Stay tuned, we've got a FAVORITE coming up next, Arrow Park!

***UPDATE- 11/14/2025 - At our most recent visit to this park the Porta-Potty was gone and there were 3 "loitering" vehicles. Sad to say, we did not stay to play. ☹️

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#7 June 5, 2025