I am forwarding this to PB folks,
Annie Young
citywide Park Commissioner
At 02:40 PM 4/16/04 -0500, Tracy wrote:
List,
Responding to Jason Stone's post about the Park Board taking measure of public opinion BEFORE making major decisions, I fully agree.
When our neighborhood, ECCO, found out via the Southwest Journal, NOT a Park Board notification, that our only park amenity, Calhoun's 32nd Street Beach, was slated for closure, the hackles went up and neighbors mobilized. In a matter of 48 hours, we had collected over 600 signatures of protest and had contacted Park Board staff and Commissioners to let them know of our disappointment. Bob Fine even made a rare appearance at our neighborhood Board meeting to hear our loud and numerous frustrations about Park policy.
Obviously, the loss of the beach would be felt by neighbors and visitors alike to the lake. But what my neighbors were really mad about was 1) the lack of consideration on the part of the Park Board to alert us (imagine the Park Board deciding to close the park building at Linden Hills, or the ball fields at Lynnhurst and not telling anyone beforehand), and 2) that our neighborhood over the past 6 years has contributed over $400,000 in NRP funds to amend the Beach and Tot Lot area (we paid for the tot lot, the landscaping adjacent to the beach, the benches, the swings, the trees, the fencing, and the concrete stairs leading down from East Calhoun Parkway to the beach area. We also purchase park police "buy backs" each season to beef up policing near the beach and on the Parkway). Given our financial commitment, and the numbers of neighbors from ECCO, CARAG, and Lyndale who use the beach daily, we felt the Park Board really did us a disservice by enthusiastically taking our NRP dollars then choosing to close down the beach without so much as a public meeting. That seemed ungrateful and cowardly.
Now before the Park Board voted on April 7 to grant a one year reprieve on the beach closure, they stupidly pulled out the life guard tower and the equipment needed to secure the rescue boat. That removal cost something in terms of labor and hauling. Now, they are restoring the beach and will have to reinstall the equipment. And this after they complain about the tight money and under-staffing. This "jump the gun" approach seems really short sighted and wasteful to me.
We are glad the beach will be open in 2004, but remain concerned that the Park Board has its sights on grand, legacy- and career-building amenities, like the marina and the new headquarters, over the basic upkeep of amenities citizens of Minneapolis have come to rely on all these years. Long term funding and commitments seem to be an issue, as well, and many list members have discussed these at length.
When Bob Fine ran for the Park Board in 2002, he campaigned on strengthening the basic "infrastructure" of our parks. I hope he holds true to his word and that his actions, and those of the board, focus on keeping what we have in wonderful working order.
Tracy Nordstrom East Calhoun
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REMINDERS:
1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
