City proposes lease of Little Butte to create public park; Eagle Point SD 9 board discusses terms

The Eagle Point School District 9 board on June 19 reviewed a draft letter of intent from the City of Eagle Point proposing a lease of the district’s Little Butte property to operate a public park.

Superintendent Mister Kovac said City Administrator Aaron Ponte sent a draft LOI that would require the lessee to construct at least one outdoor pickleball court, resurface existing outdoor basketball courts and retain an open grassy area. The draft calls for maintenance and repair to be the city’s responsibility, with the city indemnifying and holding the district harmless from suits arising from the property unless caused by the district. The LOI as described in the meeting proposes an annual rent of $1 and a draft term of 10 years.

Board members pressed for clarity on several operational items: whether lights would be installed (the city described daylight‑to‑dusk operation), responsibility for opening and locking gates, restroom access (there are no existing restrooms on the site; portable toilets were discussed as a low‑cost option), construction timing, parking impacts on school events, and whether the city or the district would retain rights to use gym facilities and restrooms for pickleballers. Board members suggested a shorter initial lease (for example, five years) with options to extend or one‑year extensions, and expressed interest in including emergency or resale protections in the contract.

Kovac told the board that the LOI is a preliminary step and that detailed terms would be negotiated in a formal contract if the board authorizes moving forward. No final lease was executed at the meeting; the board discussed next steps and signaled the need to negotiate specific terms — including term length, restroom access, parking logistics and any right of first refusal or sale provisions — before approving a binding agreement.