Planning & Development Department
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date April 23, 2012
Contact: Jeff Petry, Parking Services Manager, 541-682-5079
Erik Muller, Lane Literary Guild and Oregon Poetry Association, 541-344-1053

Poetry in Parking:
Downtown Garage Will Display Poems by Oregon Poet Laureate and Local Poets
In the words of Vincent van Gogh, “Poetry surrounds us everywhere,” even in downtown Eugene parking garages. In collaboration with the Lane Literary Guild, Oregon Poetry Association, and Young Writers Association, the City of Eugene Epark Parking Services is installing panels of poetry in the stairwells of the Overpark Garage at 10th Avenue and Oak Street. In honor of National Poetry Month, Mayor Piercy, Oregon Poet Laureate Paulann Petersen, and local poets will dedicate the new installation of “Step into Poetry” on Thursday, April 26 at 3:00 p.m. in the Overpark North Lobby (located in the hallway just north of Crumb Together at 980 Oak Street).
“Step into Poetry reflects our commitment to finding artistic and creative ways to promote downtown vitality by incorporating art into everyday objects,” noted Parking Service Manager, Jeff Petry. “We hope the poetry will delight our parkers and downtown visitors and help people remember where to find their car.”
A poetry panel will be located at the landing of each level in the Overpark’s north stairwell. The new displays will take the place of older level markers that were in disrepair and scheduled for replacement. The poems have been arranged to create a “book” with a Table of Contents available at the ground and top floors that identifies the poem and poet featured on each level. Poems include:
• “Vantage” by Oregon Poet Laureate Paulann Petersen;
• “First Mowing” by Nancy Carol Moody;
• “A Brief Conversation” by Carter McKenzie;
• “At the Bus Stop” by Cecelia Hagen;
• “The Buzzard” by Barbara Drake;
• “Lichen” by Gary Adams;
• “Dusting the Furniture” by Deborah Narin-Wells;
• “Praise” by David Laing; and
• “Mind Over Matter” by John Witte.
The project serves a number of goals including, incorporating art into parking, reinvesting parking funds where they are collected, and reinforcing the creative, distinctive culture of downtown. In addition, the new floor markers support Parking Services efforts to make parking garages easier to navigate and more inviting.
Partnering Organizations
The Oregon Poetry Association is a state association nurturing the widest possible community of Oregon poets through workshops, newsletters, State Library poetry collections, and local chapters. The local Eugene-Springfield chapter sponsors two yearly readings at the Springfield Public Library and yearly poet visits to Crow High School.
The Lane Literary Guild is a local association of poets and prose writers offering ongoing critique groups and special workshops. They sponsor The Windfall Reading Series monthly at the Eugene Public Library.
The Young Writers Association is a non-profit educational organization inspiring writers from elementary through high school to develop their appreciation of language and creative skills through classes, camps, publications, and inter-generational settings.