Willamalane Adult Activity Center

Exciting news! YOUR park and recreation district was named a finalist for the 2026 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. This places Springfield among the nation’s leading park and recreation systems. In its 82-year history, Willamalane has won the Gold Medal Grand Plaque in 2016 and 1986, and has been a finalist for the award eight other times. The 2026 Grand Plaque winner will be announced at the National Recreation and Park Association Conference in September. Read more at willamalane.org/blog

Willamalane has referred a measure to the May 19, 2026, ballot so voters can decide what they’d like to see from the district going forward. So, why now?
For many years, the district has maintained a balanced budget, with revenues outpacing expenses. However, in the last two budget years, the district’s expenses outpaced revenues. Contributing expenses include increased demand for services, facilities, and parks, rising costs of goods, services, and labor, limitations of current revenue streams, and impacts from the pandemic and the ice storm, which depleted reserve funds.
To address this gap in revenue and expenses, Willamalane reduced its annual budget by over $1 million in the last year. Since then, the district has also:
- Reorganized all staff to increase efficiency, including eliminating vacant administrative and leadership positions
- Discontinued some recreation programs
- Reduced budgets for materials and services

The proposed levy would help bridge funding gaps to preserve current levels of service. The district would continue to seek additional revenue strategies to support long-term sustainability and close budget gaps. For FAQs and more information, visit willamalane.org/levy

*Edit to add: Assessed value is different than market value. You can find your property's assessed value using the tool at willamalane.org/levy

Willamalane has referred a measure to the May 19, 2026, ballot. If passed, the measure would authorize a new property tax that would help pay for current park and recreation operations, including park safety, recreation programs, and wildfire prevention efforts. The proposed levy would help bridge funding gaps to preserve current levels of service. If not passed, programs and services would not be provided as proposed and property taxes would not be increased.

This is the first time the district has sought a local option levy to fund general operations since the district's permanent tax rate was established in 1997. For FAQs and more information, visit willamalane.org/levy

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Non-perishable and fresh food donations can be brough to Willamalane Adult Activity Center during regular hours/ We're also accepting personal care items like shampoo, soap, and toothbrushes. A full list of commonly needed items can be found at willamalane.org/food

Thank you for your support ❤️

As a sponsor of the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program for Lane County, Willamalane offers free community lectures and online resources for older adults and their families to make Medicare open enrollment easy. Last year, this program served more than 900 people in Lane County! Check out our online resources and sign up for a free lecture at willamalane.org/shiba

Tomorrow is the Downtown Springfield Second Friday Art Walk, a chance to view Sarah Bloom Kinser's artwork and enjoy live music from One More Time Band. The artist reception is from 5-7 p.m. at Willamalane Adult Activity Center. Learn more at

*Art pictured is from Claudia Thompson's exhibit at the Island Park Art Gallery

Willamalane Hosts Food Drive at Camp Putt Join a special afternoon at Camp Putt that benefits Willamalane‘s food pantry. On Sept. 12-14, bring three cans of food per person as admission for a round of mini-golf at Camp Putt. Donations will support the food pantry at Willamalane Adult Activity Center and help stock it for the upcoming seas...