I've decided I'm stuck in this town for a week or so. Unfortunately, Eugene is scant on UE options.
The biggest thing I've been able to find is some information about tunnels under the downtown area. Not the steam tunnels at UO, those are in active use. Personally, I wouldn't mess with that.
But the other tunnels...
Here's what I've been able to glean so far:
Tunnels run from the SW bank of the Willamette to Broadway. They were Eugene's original drainage system, they still carry some water when it rains. Most if not all of these tunnels are tall enough to stand and walk in.
My buddy showed me an entrance on Broadway, through a grate in the sidewalk. Very accessible, but very exposed. I found the outlet pipe into the river, that's not much of a secret. I haven't been up there yet since it's wet, but I've been told they closed off the part that leads to downtown. I'll make it my goal to find out how well.
What I'd really love to do is get a map of the system. I'm sure that's something I can find if I use the right resources. Maybe they have some old records here at the library, but I wouldn't know exactly what I'm asking for.
If anyone has any input I'm all ears.
Bonus round: There are so many old water cisterns out here. One I know of is definitely empty and out of use, but would require some creativity to get inside, and is prominent enough that I feel the risks are high. I know there are other, more thoroughly abandoned cisterns, but I don't know exactly where...
EDIT: Found my
map. Thanks for making that information free, Oregon!