[UC] Fw: Clark Park Answers
Matt Gruebel, asked me to forward his response. He is a friend and I am anti-plan, but we are friends and neighbors and can trust each other to share views, even opposing views. Even though I am against public bathrooms, I am generally very grateful to the friends for maintaining and the park and promoting youth programs and other events. Below is Matt's answer to specific questions regarding what the friends do. The friends do much more, for the park and for the neighborhood. Busy people, the Friends of Clark Park are often found helping other community organizations including Spruce Hill CA, Town Watch, Gardening Clubs, Baltimore in Bloom, etc. - Forwarded message -- From: Mathew Grubel [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 20:09:46 -0400 Subject: Clark Park Answers. RE: (was) Illegal drugs, truly filthy sex and FAIR PLAY Dear Liz, One of my neighbors forwarded to me this post from a Mr. Ellingsworth to the list-serves. I did not see his e-mail address, but if you have it, or wish to forward this to the same list-serves, perhaps that will be helpful. Mr. Ellingsworth Others in the Community, As a Board Member of the Friends for three or four years, I can shed some light on the questions you ask. What is it again that the Friends of Clark Park do? A. My understanding is that the FoCP was formed by nearby residents in the 1970s to do whatever they could to make the park better. When I joined, they had established some contacts and were able to co-ordinate city services for the Great Leaf clean-ups, get some services when they weren't happening, as well as supporting some of the small events like Veteran's Day. More too, but that's the type of stuff, plus the children's soccer program. I see workers cutting the grass, but I assume that they are from the Parks department. Is this correct? I know that one of the young men from MOVE voluntarily walks through the park after weekend events, cleaning up debris left over. Is he a Friend? (He is definitely friendly.) A. Mike is a great guy, and done a great job for 3 or 4 years now. He actually works for the Department of Recreation, part time, and only half a year. The position title is Summer Maint. Attendent. The Friends have tried to supplement the salary of the SMA, and we voted to boost the amount for Mike this year. I see trashmen removing trash; not sure where they are from. Are they the Friends? UCD? A. Yes, no, maybe. Lots of folks I use to see picking up trash in the morning. I used to pick out of 43rd street all last summer. But Mike does most of it. Last summer Recreation assigned Mike another park for two weeks, and boy it showed! He is supposed to co-ordinate with the Rec trash truck so they don't have to drive through the park. Lou used to be able to get the Streets Department send a second truck for pick-ups at the end of the week. Now, the UCD has a contractor, and its a part of his contract to remove the trash on Thursday or Friday while Rec's truck comes on Tuesday. Last year the UCD did not send their own crews into the park. This year I've seen them there, but whether that is official or not, I don't know. I see that the flag pole in the center of the park NEVER has a flag raised on it. Should the Friends do this? A. Should as in could? Sure. If the board really wanted to. Big expense would be installing the rope. The there's the matter of maintanence, and lighting, etc, etc. But if people really wanted to, there is no reason why not. Most of the Friends time and money has gone ot other projects however, and even there, it has not been enough to compensate for the neglect. Last year, it was Mike who fixed the basketball hoops on his own accord, and got some used nets. The fence has been in for repairs for ?? number of years. Last month the 1/2 court backboard came down. Gee, and I haven't even got to the playground or trees, or walks, or benches or signs... I see that the pavement along all of the walks is broken, shifting and, generally, in need of replacement. Do the Friends remedy this? A. We used to try and remind the city, request capital repairs, etc. I see that the lights in several of the poles along the walks have burnt out bulbs which need replacement. Do the Friends do this? A. Same as above. The Friends Maint. chair used to report the lights out. Not sure if anyone was on top of it this year. There was also some dispute over who was responsible for the wiring. Councilwoman got them to fill the hole back up, but since then..? I see groups of people holding events - plan them, clean up afterwards, leave the park as it was before they arrived. Are they Friends? A. Different events, different groups. Hopefully, they all join the Friends, but anyone can request a permit. Question: Who is responsible for Clark Park, and what are those responsibilities? A. The Department of Recreation
RE: [UC] Fw: Clark Park Answers
Thank you Matt! The Friends of Clark Bark is a membership organization with no paid staff. The money it raises is plowed back into the Park. Everyone who uses the park is encouraged to join for the low rate of $5 to $25 per annum. Our annual meeting is this coming Monday at 8pm. I believe it is in Rosenberger Hall in the park, but the board may have arranged to use the larger hall across the street at USP. Notices of the meeting details are posted around the park. Someone from Morris Arboretum will be there to make a presentation about trees. All are invited, welcome to come, join, vote, discuss. PLEASE DO COME!!! Thank You. P.S. I'm a dog owner, mother and user of the park, and I'm a Friend. Vanessa Albert Lowry Greenberg Traurig, LLP Two Commerce Square 2001 Market Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215-988-7811 fax:215-988-7801/rightfax 215-717-5233 -Original Message- From: Elizabeth F. Campion [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 9:21 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [UC] Fw: Clark Park Answers Matt Gruebel, asked me to forward his response. He is a friend and I am anti-plan, but we are friends and neighbors and can trust each other to share views, even opposing views. Even though I am against public bathrooms, I am generally very grateful to the friends for maintaining and the park and promoting youth programs and other events. Below is Matt's answer to specific questions regarding what the friends do. The friends do much more, for the park and for the neighborhood. Busy people, the Friends of Clark Park are often found helping other community organizations including Spruce Hill CA, Town Watch, Gardening Clubs, Baltimore in Bloom, etc. - Forwarded message -- From: Mathew Grubel [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 20:09:46 -0400 Subject: Clark Park Answers. RE: (was) Illegal drugs, truly filthy sex and FAIR PLAY Dear Liz, One of my neighbors forwarded to me this post from a Mr. Ellingsworth to the list-serves. I did not see his e-mail address, but if you have it, or wish to forward this to the same list-serves, perhaps that will be helpful. Mr. Ellingsworth Others in the Community, As a Board Member of the Friends for three or four years, I can shed some light on the questions you ask. What is it again that the Friends of Clark Park do? A. My understanding is that the FoCP was formed by nearby residents in the 1970s to do whatever they could to make the park better. When I joined, they had established some contacts and were able to co-ordinate city services for the Great Leaf clean-ups, get some services when they weren't happening, as well as supporting some of the small events like Veteran's Day. More too, but that's the type of stuff, plus the children's soccer program. I see workers cutting the grass, but I assume that they are from the Parks department. Is this correct? I know that one of the young men from MOVE voluntarily walks through the park after weekend events, cleaning up debris left over. Is he a Friend? (He is definitely friendly.) A. Mike is a great guy, and done a great job for 3 or 4 years now. He actually works for the Department of Recreation, part time, and only half a year. The position title is Summer Maint. Attendent. The Friends have tried to supplement the salary of the SMA, and we voted to boost the amount for Mike this year. I see trashmen removing trash; not sure where they are from. Are they the Friends? UCD? A. Yes, no, maybe. Lots of folks I use to see picking up trash in the morning. I used to pick out of 43rd street all last summer. But Mike does most of it. Last summer Recreation assigned Mike another park for two weeks, and boy it showed! He is supposed to co-ordinate with the Rec trash truck so they don't have to drive through the park. Lou used to be able to get the Streets Department send a second truck for pick-ups at the end of the week. Now, the UCD has a contractor, and its a part of his contract to remove the trash on Thursday or Friday while Rec's truck comes on Tuesday. Last year the UCD did not send their own crews into the park. This year I've seen them there, but whether that is official or not, I don't know. I see that the flag pole in the center of the park NEVER has a flag raised on it. Should the Friends do this? A. Should as in could? Sure. If the board really wanted to. Big expense would be installing the rope. The there's the matter of maintanence, and lighting, etc, etc. But if people really wanted to, there is no reason why not. Most of the Friends time and money has gone ot other projects however, and even there, it has not been enough to compensate for the neglect. Last year, it was Mike who fixed the basketball hoops on his own accord, and got some used nets. The fence has been in for repairs for ?? number of years. Last
