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e f <br /> Larry and Kelley Swangstue <br /> 6301 Coyote Trail <br /> Lino Lakes, MN. 55014 <br /> Home Phone 484-6485 <br /> November 15, 1996 <br /> George Lindy <br /> Chairperson <br /> Park and Recreation Department <br /> 7204 Lake Drive <br /> Lino Lakes,MN. <br /> 55014 <br /> Dear Mr. Lindy, <br /> The purpose of this letter is to inform you of our thoughts regarding the new park which serves the Park Grove, <br /> Pineridge and Birchwood Acres developments. You haven't heard from us in the past. We have decided to jump <br /> into this melee and provide another perspective to this issue. We thank you in advance for taking the time to read and <br /> consider the comments we have expressed in this letter. <br /> From the time we had our house built the developer and our builder had referred to the land that was set aside for a <br /> park. We eagerly awaited the construction of the playground and the other facilities which were discussed in the <br /> surveys that have been sent to our home. We also donated proceeds from our garage sale to Friends of the Park. <br /> A few days before the playground was installed we met with Jeanne Kenow,Lino Lakes Community Services Officer, <br /> at a bike rodeo we arranged at Shenandoah Park. We discussed our excitement regarding the new park. Ms. Kenow <br /> told us that the new park would be a safe place for the kids to play because it would be in an area where a lot of <br /> houses would overlook it and it could be policed by the community. We were interested to learn about community <br /> policing from Ms. Kenow and realized how much safer the children would be while playing at our neighborhood park. <br /> You can imagine our disappointment when we discovered where the playground equipment was installed. The <br /> playground is tucked into the woods and hidden behind berms,built for the benefit of a few homeowners. This <br /> certainly flys in the face of the current theories of public safety where the community looks out for all those that <br /> reside there. <br /> If the placement of the playground was out in the open like most of us assumed it would be(including Ms. Kenow), <br /> we would be comfortable letting our seven-year-old ride her bike over with a friend and play. Because of the <br /> secluded placement of the playground we don't allow her to go there with her young friends. <br /> The people that urged you to place this playground in this location are a very organized group of individuals,but they <br /> are definitely a minority with their own agenda. We believe they have unduly influenced the decisions that have <br /> previously been made with regard to this park and continue to do so even though there is an overwhelming majority <br /> of people who want the things that we rated highly in our surveys. <br /> Lino Lakes doesn't need another failed park like Shenandoah Park on Arrowwood. At this park there is one picnic <br /> table and a grass infield which is rarely mowed. Sure,you don't have to worry about noise and traffic because no <br /> one uses it! This park is a failure. <br /> ram, <br />