Develop Lakewood--ParkPlace Meeting Dec. 1, 2005 Recap

[Mark Schroeder]

This is my, Mark Schroeder's, recap of the meeting at Lakewood Library last Thursday. I invite other attendees to reflect here as well...

Last Thursday’s Develop Lakewood meeting to discuss the ParkPlace Project for a ‘third place’ gathering spot in Lakewood Park was well attended with the bulk of the participants either on the Lakewood Historical Society board, or friends of LHS. Two city councilpersons were in attendance.

On behalf of Develop Lakewood I convened the meeting with a reminder that this was an open forum--that all points and views were welcome and encouraged-- then asked for input from the participants about what they were bringing to the meetingâ€â€￾energy, vision, etc.

Paula Reed (President)and Maizy Adams (Executive Director) from the Lakewood Historical Society gave an overview of a planned used for the Skate House building that LHS worked with the City on in the planning process for the Lakewood Park Master Plan in 2001 and 2002. The Park Master Plan has the current structure torn down and a new proposed buildingâ€â€￾the LHS 2-story barn structure replacing it. LHS had promises from the City (former administration) that the City would build a building for LHS’s useâ€â€￾at a proposed cost of $600,000.

LHS has long enjoyed permissive use of the Skate House building and currently uses the facility for their Heritage Days Camp and for wreath making during December. They pay no fees to the City for such use. They have been de-facto stewards of the Skate House building, recently having the City install new doors because the old ones were rotten.

LHS’s mission is being compromised due to a lack of space at their largest artifact and operations center, the Oldest Stone House and Museum. They have been looking forward to the planned new building since the 2002 plan date. They plan on using the building for office space, artifact and document archival storage, and educational classroom and meeting space.

LHS was counting on City generosity to provide the new building. They have few funds for any capital expansion at this time. Paula Reed and Maizy Adams have recently attended grant writing classes.

There is no plan going forward on how LHS would fund the additional expense of utilities and upkeep of a significant new building. Nor is there a plan on who would staff the new building.

There appears to be a significant overlap of proposed use of a new structure in both the ParkPlace Vision and the LHS Plan. ParkPlace could provide meeting and office space for LHS, but no new archival space. This may be adequate temporarily, as there would be additional archival space created in the Oldest Stone House by removing the office and meeting space currently in the basement.

However, the parties were unable to come to resolution about who would lead the project. LHS views the space as ‘theirs’ by right of inclusion in the Park Master Plan and prior permissive use. Develop Lakewood is uneasy about committing invested capital in a project they do not control.

There was discussion about either the City or LHS coming into a large sum of money in the future as a result of a prominent citizen’s demise. Develop Lakewood would rather not play in this “death lotteryâ€Â￾. We would rather proactively seek investment capital from citizens excited about the creation of a new amenity in their park.

There was also discussion about approaching the City regarding privatizing the operations at the Womens Club Pavilion. Rather than having the City lease the space and manage the events calendar, a private company could do this and also operate a third place type café in that space. This may be an attractive alternative. Further study and inquiry along this line will be undertaken by Develop Lakewood.

Overall the meeting was very engaging and productive. I left with a deeper understanding of the needs and wants of the Lakewood Historical Society, along with a sense that keeping the dialog ongoing will benefit Lakewood greatly.

After the meeting it came to me that there may be a solution. Develop Lakewood would grant LHS representation on ParkPlace’s board and LHS may acknowledge the reality of the situation: a community-led commercial venture may provide the necessary investment capital and economic engine to erect and maintain an attractive new structure in a timely manner.

The dream of ParkPlace is alive and growing.