What's that happening at the Eugene Science Center at Alton Baker Park?

Hannarose McGuinness, Eugene Register-Guard

Project: New parking lot, stormwater facilities and pedestrian areas for the Eugene Science Center at Alton Baker Park. Part of this project includes the reconfiguration of Leo Harris Pkwy. to run south of the science center.

Location: 2300 Leo Harris Pkwy., Eugene.

The Eugene Science Center is undergoing some changes throughout 2024 and 2025 to add a new parking lot, pedestrian areas, exhibit and materials storage space, an outdoor science park and infrastructure updates. It plans to remain open to the public as construction is ongoing.

The Eugene Science Center is a science museum, planetarium and technology center. As the only hands-on science museum and planetarium in Lane and its surrounding counties, programs focus on interactive exhibits and presentations to encourage young minds to explore the world of science, technology, math and engineering. The center primarily serves children ages 0-14 along with their families and schools.

The updates are taking place as the University of Oregon develops a new indoor practice facility next to Autzen Stadium adjacent to the science center and relocates two existing outdoor practice fields south of their current space. In order to accommodate these changes, the current parking lot serving the science center, Cuthbert Amphitheater and Alton Baker Park will become two different paved parking lots located east and north of the science center. A south lot will serve staff. Leo Harris Parkway will also be reconfigured to route south of the science center.

The Eugene Science Center is undergoing changes as the University of Oregon constructs new outdoor practice fields by the adjacent Autzen Stadium. The science center expects to construct a new parking lot and additional exhibit storage space to accommodate changes.
The Eugene Science Center is undergoing changes as the University of Oregon constructs new outdoor practice fields by the adjacent Autzen Stadium. The science center expects to construct a new parking lot and additional exhibit storage space to accommodate changes.

Construction is expected to impact both Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Leo Harris Pkwy. In March, travelers on MLK Jr. Blvd. can anticipate seeing the partial closure of two eastbound lanes, splitting two westbound lanes into single east and westbound lanes. Starting in June, the west intersection of MLK Jr. Blvd. and Leo Harris Pkwy. is anticipated to close. The science center will still be accessible through the east intersection of MLK Jr. Blvd. and Leo Harris Pkwy.

Current timelines estimate completion of the first phase of construction with access to new amenities by the end of July. The redirection of Leo Harris Pkwy. is planned to begin this December and is expected to be done by mid-June 2025. Final construction and landscaping efforts expect to conclude by mid-September 2025.

Lot Size: The property the Eugene Science Center occupies is just over 20 acres.

Owner: The Eugene Science Center is owned by the city of Eugene as public lands.

General Contractor: Hoffman Construction Company, of Eugene.

Sources: Eugene Science Center, City of Eugene Planning and Development Department Permit Records, Lane County Property Records.

Is there something under construction that you’d like to learn more about? Contact growth and development reporter Hannarose McGuinness at 541-844-9859 or hmcguinness@registerguard.com

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: What's that happening at the Eugene Science Center?

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