We hereby petition the Medford City Council to stop its plans to build a minor league baseball stadium on top of Hawthorne Park. The proposed stadium is specifically intended for the Emeralds, formerly of Eugene, after Eugene residents refused to fund a new stadium there. Our City Council has already rejected the only alternative location it proposed, at Harry and David Field, without a vote and without announcement to the public. Hawthorne Park is the ONLY location the council will consider.
Hawthorne Park is Medford's second-oldest park and one of the largest in the city. It was dedicated in 1947 on property purchased with donations from 22 Medford residents and firms. Then-Mayor Clarence A. Meeker worked for 14 years to buy that land for a park. That history matters. Hawthorne Park was created for the people of Medford, and it should stay a free, public, green space for the whole community.
Hawthorne Park is on the east edge of downtown and the west edge of historic residential neighborhoods, without easy freeway access or pubic transportation to support a stadium crowd. Virtually no on-site parking is proposed for stadium attendees. Read all about it in the city's own Due Diligence Analysis at https://www.medfordoregon.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/city-recorders-office/2026-agenda-amp-minutes/jul-dec-2026/11-11-2026-ss/11-12-2026-ss-agenda.pdf.
It's a terrible place for a stadium, and turning it into one would take away the park people already rely on, and have relied on for 80 years. It would conflict with the city’s own standards for a park within half a mile of every resident, and it would permanently alter the character of our most historic neighborhoods. Our community needs thoughtful economic development, yes, but not the loss of one of our most important parks. The city says Hawthorne Park is blighted and has a homeless problem. We reject the city's claims that Hawthorne Park is blighted, and we reject that a stadium will solve homelessness. Studies of real stadium projects over 50 years have shown that a stadium rarely brings the economic stimulus that its promoters claim it will.
Our community doesn't support a stadium at this location. We already have over 1,000 hard-copy signatures opposing this project. Join us, Citizens for Hawthorne Park, in fighting to keep our neighborhood park. If you've already signed our hardcopy petition, no need to sign again. If you haven't, please sign and share it widely!
7 Comments
We need preserve Hawthorne Park we do not need to have a ballpark downtown - they would be tearing down some beautiful old homes in the area. They say if they can’t have a new ball park they don’t want any ridiculous
Public green space is vital to healthy communities! This plan to take away public space for a private baseball stadium is incredibly short sighted. There are plenty of other places that we could put a baseball stadium. This plan unfairly impacts people experiencing poverty. My family loves the farmer’s market, the splash pad, and the huge green space!! Save Hawthorne Park!!!
Tired of public spaces getting commercialized! Not to mention that a stadium would make parking and traffic even more insane downtown. I'm sure tickets would be out of reach for most of us anyway. Put it where we already have large sports parks!
Hawthorne Park is too important to all of its citizens to be converted to a baseball stadium.
Save our beautiful, historic Hawthorne Park!!!
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No residential neighborhood needs a stadium in its back yard. Put the stadium in a suitable location and no one will oppose it.
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We hereby petition the Medford City Council to stop its plans to build a minor league baseball stadium on top of Hawthorne Park. The proposed stadium is specifically intended for the Emeralds, formerly of Eugene, after Eugene residents refused to fund a new stadium there. Our City Council has already rejected the only alternative location it proposed, at Harry and David Field, without a vote and without announcement to the public. Hawthorne Park is the ONLY location the council will consider.
Hawthorne Park is Medford's second-oldest park and one of the largest in the city. It was dedicated in 1947 on property purchased with donations from 22 Medford residents and firms. Then-Mayor Clarence A. Meeker worked for 14 years to buy that land for a park. That history matters. Hawthorne Park was created for the people of Medford, and it should stay a free, public, green space for the whole community.
Hawthorne Park is on the east edge of downtown and the west edge of historic residential neighborhoods, without easy freeway access or pubic transportation to support a stadium crowd. Virtually no on-site parking is proposed for stadium attendees. Read all about it in the city's own Due Diligence Analysis at https://www.medfordoregon.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/city-recorders-office/2026-agenda-amp-minutes/jul-dec-2026/11-11-2026-ss/11-12-2026-ss-agenda.pdf.
It's a terrible place for a stadium, and turning it into one would take away the park people already rely on, and have relied on for 80 years. It would conflict with the city’s own standards for a park within half a mile of every resident, and it would permanently alter the character of our most historic neighborhoods. Our community needs thoughtful economic development, yes, but not the loss of one of our most important parks. The city says Hawthorne Park is blighted and has a homeless problem. We reject the city's claims that Hawthorne Park is blighted, and we reject that a stadium will solve homelessness. Studies of real stadium projects over 50 years have shown that a stadium rarely brings the economic stimulus that its promoters claim it will.
Our community doesn't support a stadium at this location. We already have over 1,000 hard-copy signatures opposing this project. Join us, Citizens for Hawthorne Park, in fighting to keep our neighborhood park. If you've already signed our hardcopy petition, no need to sign again. If you haven't, please sign and share it widely!
7 Comments
Hawthorne Park is a treasure. Hard to ever get park land back once it's gone. Please preserve it for the community's future.
We need preserve Hawthorne Park we do not need to have a ballpark downtown - they would be tearing down some beautiful old homes in the area. They say if they can’t have a new ball park they don’t want any ridiculous
Public green space is vital to healthy communities! This plan to take away public space for a private baseball stadium is incredibly short sighted. There are plenty of other places that we could put a baseball stadium. This plan unfairly impacts people experiencing poverty. My family loves the farmer’s market, the splash pad, and the huge green space!! Save Hawthorne Park!!!
Tired of public spaces getting commercialized! Not to mention that a stadium would make parking and traffic even more insane downtown. I'm sure tickets would be out of reach for most of us anyway. Put it where we already have large sports parks!
Hawthorne Park is too important to all of its citizens to be converted to a baseball stadium.
Save our beautiful, historic Hawthorne Park!!!
· petition starter
No residential neighborhood needs a stadium in its back yard. Put the stadium in a suitable location and no one will oppose it.
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Hawthorne Park is a treasure. Hard to ever get park land back once it's gone. Please preserve it for the community's future.