As the name suggest, the Lane County Commons is ultimately about what we share in common–the air, the water, the planet, the public places, and the sense of community. Instead of living only as individuals, trying to protect our own little niche, it's time to put away the things that divide and focus on the things that bring us together.
Something for Everyone
Overview: There can be no sustainable management of the planet without worldwide human participation. All nations, all peoples in our global village must get onto the same page, in the same chapter, in the same book of planet stewardship; sustainability is ultimately a global design. This kind of unity begins at the local level and inspires outward to the entire planet.
Education is the central piece of this transformation. Some of it is relearning things we used to know, how to grow and process our own food. Some of it is learning new things, alternative technologies and lifestyle practices. And some of it is learning to live together, building community.
The fairgrounds campus will be a community gathering space that is also an institute and learning place. Each individual piece of the entire system will be a demonstration and potential workshop. The campus as a whole will similarly be a demonstration and open-air classroom—as well as a template for rejuvenation of other fairgrounds sites outside of Lane County.
Implementation: Above and beyond the physical changes to the fairgrounds site that are suggested in this proposal, there is something more that is critical to any success this project might have. And that is in the atmosphere and culture created at the location. Much like the many different forms of renewable energy creating and energy saving techniques that will be demonstrated at the site, individually these techniques are not enough. It's only through the integrated sum of these parts and pieces that the goal of zero net energy can possibly be achieved. It is the same with the culture of community that the Lane County Commons must necessarily create. A whole system recycling program alone will not be enough. The year-round farmers' market alone will not be enough. The park-like atmosphere alone will not be enough. Much like the atmosphere one experiences at Seattle's Pike Street Market, it will not be any one thing that makes the site vibrant and robust; it will be the sum of the various events and group activities that go on at the site that make it come alive. In the implementation, the creation of the atmosphere and the culture of the Lane County Commons will evolve in stages and build as each stage is actualized.
The farmers' market will be a great boon to the community, but add the ecological landscaping to the setting and the market becomes something more than grocery shopping. This will be very nice in itself, but add the topological amphitheater and music and other performances and then the market and the park will begin to buzz. Again this will be something beautiful in itself, but add local art. Add the Garden Village Walking Mall and the energy from the other events that are already occurring at the Events Center and the entire place will begin to resonate. Then wrap it all in the prevailing message of sustainable living and the meaning of an entirely positive response to the pressing concerns of energy, environment, and community and the Lane County Commons will become what is meant to become–a vibrant community gathering spot, a much needed agricultural resource, a dynamic economic generator, and a one-of-a-kind destination site for people from all over the region, the nation, and perhaps the world.