Eugene cross is burned out, ready for rehab
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EUGENE, Ore. -- Eugene's landmark cross is about to get a major makeover.
Lights on a section of the the 40-foot cross, on the grounds of Eugene Bible College, burned out last month. So caretakers are taking the opportunity to renovate the cross and the nearby plaza.
That includes a new $15,000 LED lighting system.
"It would provide clearer, crisper lighting at a fraction of the cost," said David Brink, the school's administrator. Plans also call for new shrubs and landscaping as well as a ring of international flags around the plaza to commemorate the school's renewed global focus.
"We want people to stop for a moment and recognize this isn't just Eugene, this isn't just Oregon or the Pacific Northwest. We're part of a global community," Brink said.
The cross has been a hallmark of the Eugene Bible College campus since 1997. Authorities moved it there on a judge's orders after a major church and state controversy.
The cross once stood atop public land at Skinner Butte. For 30 years, the cross was a thorny political issue and frequent target for protests.
One man was arrested for guarding the cross' removal with a shotgun.
Since its arrival at EBC, Brink said the cross has become a quiet, controversy-free part of campus.
"When people need a break from whatever they're doing, this is the one place they know they can always come to," Brink said.
