Eugene Parks and Open Space manages many natural areas it calls neighborhood natural areas. These include smaller natural areas that are part of a neighborhood park such as Tugman or Bond parks and natural areas that are part of larger community or metropolitan parks such as Skinner Butte and Whilamut. Many future developed parks are managed by the neighborhood natural areas team.
Neighborhood natural areas provide opportunities for folks to escape the more urban environment and connect with nature and provide habitat for wildlife. These areas contribute to a more livable Eugene through mitigation of urban heat, providing pollinator habitat, improving water quality, sequestering carbon and more.