Madison Meadow

Our Mission

We are a group of neighbors who formed the Madison Meadow nonprofit in order to purchase the meadow to preserve it as undeveloped space. As well as saving an essential element of our own community, we want to educate people on the importance of preserving habitat islands within sub-urban development. Our vision. The History of Madison Meadow.

The Value of a Meadow

The meadow at 22nd Avenue and Madison Street in Eugene, Oregon supports a far greater diversity of life than the surrounding lawns and gardens. Audubon Society members estimate that approximately 100 species of birds visit this valuable island of habitat, including the very rare black-throated green warbler. This diversity of life is not just good for animals and plants � It's good for people.

For decades, the two acre meadow bordering 22nd Ave at Madison Street has been shared by all of the life it supports, and that, collectively, makes it what it is. Generations of neighborhood children have played among grasses and wildflowers, madrone, filbert, apple, pear and cherry trees.

While we accept the necessity of development, we believe it essential to our well-being to maintain undeveloped places within our neighborhoods. The ideal of containing sub-urban sprawl through population density should not lead us to overlook the necessity of day-to-day contact with open, natural spaces. A key to wise development is knowing when not to build.

Thank you

The incredible outpouring of support from the community here, and from the larger community (as far away as Germany and Holland) has been wonderful. To the hundreds of individuals who gave contributions of money, time and talent - from children and friends who put change in our collection jars to the anonymous donors, businesses and individuals who donated services and wonderful items and the many people who gave advice and encouragement - thank you. You have been amazing.

The meadow thanks you, too. In the spring Queen Anne�s Lace and wild sweet pea are in full bloom buzzing with bees, its grasses are tipped with butterflies, its old orchard trees are dropping plums and apples, their branches filled with birdsong in the day and stars at night. Thank you from those who speak quietly.

For more information email [email protected] or call 541-683-3430.

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