Nikki, I understand you are passionate on this subject, but I can't just let your distortion ride.
The speaker to whom you referred quoted figures that pointed out that the entire area is populated largely by singles and emply-nesters. Children make up 1.4 % of the area's population -- hardly a promising location for PUBLIC ball fields, you may agree. The speaker went on to point out that there are areas where a ball field would really be appropriate, in relation to the youth population. Here's the EXACT QUOTE: "If DeLaSalle is really concerned about giving back into the community, they would be looking at the area around Franklin, and Lake Street, around Chicago where many children are living who could use something like this." The speaker was questioning the poor planning that places a field where there are virtually no children and ignores underserved areas with higher populations of children. This is the same reason you don't build a Jungle Gym at a senior citizen complex. On your other point about busline access. May I point out that at the neighborhood meeting which I know you attended, DeLaSalle representatives pointed out that one reason they need adjacent fields is the demand by working parents to have their students involved in after school activities right at the school. Are they different from the parents who you think will put their kids on the bus to send them off to Nicollet Island to use the fields at the times DeLaSalle does not? On this last point: I see that according to DeLaSalle's OWN website, Shared use with the Minneapolis Park Board is listed as "on Sundays and during the summer." Check out: www.delasalle.com and click on Overhead View of Proposed Expansion. (Do this soon, for this kind of reference usually leaves the website soon after it becomes public.) If you go on to read about the shared use, you'll also see that the public use begins after all p.e. classes (no problem - school time), after practices and/or home games for ... girls' and boys' soccer, football and other sports, PLUS events for parents, students, alumni and friends that could be held outdoor. If the Park Commissioners are looking for a good deal for the public as a return on the multimillion dollar land investment, standing at the end of a long line "waiting for a turn," certainly doesn't fit MY definition. While I'm at it, I'd like to point out the problem with an "anti-Nicollet Island speaker" (you chose the nomenclature, not I). This was the Walker docent who pointed out the success of the Walker Sculpture Garden/Park Board use agreement. However, a significant difference is the fact that the public doesn't have to stand in line and wait until all the Walker members are through using the Scupture Garden before they're allowed in! How about in the future we talk issues and facts, not distortions. The tapes of the Park Board meeting are available, in case you want to verify. Christine Viken on 8/1/05 3:28 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > One of the anti-DeLaSalle speakers at that MPRB meeting said Nicollet Island > is a neighborhood for adults and suggested we go build the field on Franklin > Avenue or Lake Street. > > Nikki Carlson > Linden Hills on the #6 busline, one bus ride straight to Nicollet Island > DeLaSalle parent > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Anne McC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Phyllis Kahn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [email protected] > Sent: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 12:55:25 -0500 > Subject: Re: [Mpls] Re: Mpls digest Vol 19 Issue 44 Nicollet Island. > > > As I recall, if you swim across the river towards the east (roughly) you are > in NE Mpls. If you swim across in roughly a westerly direction, you're in N > and S Mpls. With it's 'central' location, the Island seems a perfect site > for a soccer field. Actually, it would be just as easy and, in many cases, > easier for Northside kids to get to a field on the Island via public > transportation or bike path, than to most possible sites in North Mpls. > > Anne McCandless > Jordan > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Phyllis Kahn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 11:35 PM > Subject: [Mpls] Re: Mpls digest Vol 19 Issue 44 Nicollet Island. > > >> Just a correction to the second Park watch report. I did not say that >> the Mpls park system had enough soccer fields...just that a soccer >> expert from NE and SE said that this area has no shortage. Fields >> needed in S and N Mpls and that is where $$ should be spent. >> >> Here is the line in question. >> 27. Rep. Phyllis Kahn says there are so many things that can be >> criticized >> with this project. She refers the Board to a "Green Guide" from [some] >> >> Journal. She says there is no need for more soccer fields in the park >> system. >> >> >> Phyllis Kahn State Rep 59B >> > REMINDERS: > 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If > you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn > E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
