10/07/1996 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

.�. Q's and Ns - Page 2 • With so many kids in the area, they need a safe place to play. Currently, they're playing their informal sports games (hockey, basketball, baseball, tennis, etc.) in the middle of the streets and in the cul de sacs, and the kids are outgrowing these spaces. Cars and homes are getting hit by baseballs. Kids are unnecessarily getting hurt. Hockey pucks are getting lost in the manholes. Cars must constantly be on the lookout for`pickup games" in the streets. • We have raised the money to make this a better park and there are additional fundraisers as we speak. But with everything else planned for the unacquired land, there's nothing to spend the money on! • Over 2 years ago, Marty Asleson attended a neighborhood meeting and gave us copies of the city's park plan ("Original Plan"). He told us that the city only had money for playground equipment and that if we wanted any of the other park elements, we might want to do fundraisers and ask for matching from the Friends of the Park foundation. (See copy of"Minutes from 7/21194 Meeting" for details.) For the past 2 years, dozens of residents have participated in fundraisers; in addition, a $2,000 grant was obtained from Friends of the Park. But now, many of the items we raised money for are no longer in the park plan (e.g., basketball court) or were moved to unaquired land (picnic shelter) that may not be available for years. • When someone buys property that borders park land, they should expect that a park vAll be put there. Moreover, we were able to obtain a copy of the plan showing the various recreational elements that could go into the park, so others, too, could've obtained a copy. What can be done to satisfy all residents? Perhaps that's not possible, but we do feel the city and residents have made many efforts already to accommodate the concerns of those bordering the park. We feel that a neighborhood park that is not a programmed/scheduled has been proven in countless other neighborhoods to be a "good thing". As for parking concerns, the expert park planners (Brauer &Assoc.) have repeatedly said that parking problems and the like are not an issue for an informal "ride to/walk to" park like this one. And if such problems ever did arise, Marty Asleson has explained various options for resolution. 101IN Please help us move forward with this park! Ljul"7 CA ��tt i;VyA