PORTLAND, Or. ?EUR??,,????'??? A design team of Corvallis and Portland-based firms shared the limelight with the Mayor of Corvallis to accept the Oregon Downtown Development Association?EUR??,,????'???s (ODDA) 2003 Landscape & Linkages Award at today?EUR??,,????'???s Downtown Achievement Awards ceremony held at the Hotel Oregon in McMinnville. This statewide, annual awards program honors outstanding projects, individuals and partnerships associated with downtown revitalization efforts. The award-winning Corvallis Riverfront Commemorative Park establishes the downtown riverfront as a community amenity that promotes public use and downtown revitalization by celebrating the river, expressing the City?EUR??,,????'???s cultural heritage, and reclaiming an incredible natural resource for the community and wildlife. The new park, designed by CH2M-Hill?EUR??,,????'???s Corvallis office and the Portland-based firm of Walker Macy Landscape Architects, includes greenspace, three plazas, an interactive fountain, a series of overlooks, and a multimodal pedestrian and bicycle path. ?EUR??,,????'??It?EUR??,,????'???s such a wonderfully inviting space now that it really helps link the river to the downtown area,?EUR??,,????'?? said ODDA Executive Director Vicki Dugger. ?EUR??,,????'??It absolutely comes head and shoulders above other entries in the public space category.?EUR??,,????'?? The project, which improved over 25 acres of public property and stretches 4,300 linear feet along the Corvallis Riverfront, includes the largest riparian habitat enhancement on the Willamette River. The ecological restoration of the riverfront removed debris and invasive non-native species, stabilized the riverbanks, and reestablished native riparian vegetation. ?EUR??,,????'??This project is outstanding from a lot of perspectives,?EUR??,,????'?? according to Walker Macy?EUR??,,????'???s Lead Designer, Mauricio Villarreal, ?EUR??,,????'??It has been an exciting collaboration with City staff and the citizens of Corvallis to create a design that is a true representation of the community?EUR??,,????'???s values.?EUR??,,????'?? Photo Captions: The new Jackson Street Plaza features an interactive and interpretive fountain that uses the element of water to reference the importance of the Willamette River to residents of Corvallis. Monroe Plaza?EUR??,,????'???s design features a variety of seating choices and landscaping for a pedestrian-friendly environment. Photographer: J. Douglas Macy, FASLA