The jumping off discussion area for the rest of the Deck. All things Lakewood.
Please check out our other sections. As we refile many discussions from the past into
their proper sections please check them out and offer suggestions.
What we should do is transfer the park to State of Ohio, much as Cleveland did with Edgewater, due in no small part to the same issues.
Since it is open, and used by a good deal of non-residents, on our dime, we might as well spread the financial impact state-wide. We could probably work out a lease-back arrangement of the pool, to keep it for residential use. This would free up lots of man-hours to properly maintain the remaining parks (which are probably too small to interest the State).
From recent visits to Edgewater and Lakewood parks, there is essentially little difference in terms of maintenance anyway.
Jeff
To wander this country and this world looking for the best barbecue â€â€
I am one of those people that if I see people littering in public I call them on it. My boys are scouts and we enjoying the outdoors, our kids learned "leave no trace" early on. Unfortunately not everyone is that diligent. So who should be responsible? I will do my part, but we pay taxes and the city should make an effort to maintain its properties. For full disclosure those pictures were taken in the fall. I went to Lakewood Park on Saturday for the egg hunt and breakfast. I checked to see if any of those things had been repaired before I posted the photos. They haven't, so ample time has passed.
I also don't want people to get the idea that Lakewood Park is the only park with problems. Joe mentioned Merl Bunts. My parents live around the corner from that park at when it was first built it was wonderful. It has been vandalized numerous times. Despite the graffiti and trash I still will take my children there. We go to Madison Park for soccer practice. The state of that park is atrocious. Half the equipment is broken and/or missing. Kauffman Park we avoid, especially since Little Links is no longer open. Even the smaller pocket parks are not maintained.
This fall several citizens participated in meetings on the parks, yet we see no action. It doesn't surprise me though because in the CSU report that came out recently a chief complaint of citizens was lack of action.
I want to thank Joe, Charyn and Rick for agreeing that the citizens shouldn't have to take it upon ourselves to maintain our public places. While I will continue to participate in clean up days and do my part, I expect my city to do what I pay taxes for. CLEAN UP THE PARKS. Not doing so sends a bad message to the parents and citizens of Lakewood, to me it says "We don't want/need you here." That's unfortunate.
Here. I did a quick draft of a resolution. I'm sure it needs some fleshing out:
BE IT KNOWN
That Lakewood Park is a green space facility which provides recreational opportunities to all, regardless of their City of Residence;
That the costs of maintaining Lakewood Park are born by the residents of Lakewood;
That the City of Lakewood no longer has either the wherewithal, funding or commitment to maintain the park in a safe, secure and manner for the use of either citizens of the City of Lakewood, or non-resident users who are permitted access free of charge;
That the maintenance of such facility, being open to the general public without limitation to their residence or financial commitment by virtue of the payment of taxes which support the services necessary to main the facilities is an undue burden on the City of Lakewood, its citizens and taxpayers;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED:
That the facility now owned by the City of Lakewood, but available to all, regardless of the residency, shall be transferred to the State of Ohio to better insure that the Park is properly maintained and that the costs for such maintenance be born statewide reflecting the availability of such Park to all citizens of the State of Ohio.
Jeff
To wander this country and this world looking for the best barbecue â€â€
Jeff Endress wrote:Here. I did a quick draft of a resolution. I'm sure it needs some fleshing out:
That the facility now owned by the City of Lakewood, but available to all, regardless of the residency, shall be transferred to the State of Ohio to better insure that the Park is properly maintained and that the costs for such maintenance be born statewide reflecting the availability of such Park to all citizens of the State of Ohio.
Jeff
Jeff, you mentioned that Edgewater was managed this way in an earlier post -- how is that working, and are other parks (Rocky River) becoming wards of the state also?
Danielle Masters wrote:My boys are scouts and we enjoying the outdoors, our kids learned "leave no trace" early on.
[Topic Hijack]
That's good stuff. Do them a favor, encourage them to earn the rank of Eagle. They will never, in their adult life, regret having it. [/Topic Hijack]
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That's good stuff. Do them a favor, encourage them to earn the rank of Eagle. They will never, in their adult life, regret having it.
[/Topic Hijack]
Our oldest just earned his Arrow of Light from Pack 115 this Saturday, his goal is to get his Eagle when he is 16. We are and will definitely continue to encourage all four of our boys. He is so excited to now be a Boy Scout. He has learned a lot about being a respectful citizen.
Danielle Masters wrote:
Our oldest just earned his Arrow of Light from Pack 115 this Saturday
Wait. 115?
Do I know you?
I'm one of the Asst. Scout Masters of Troop 115. Although, to be honest, lately I've been unable to get to the meetings...
Hope he gets to go to the New Scout camp out this month (this month, right?). If you have ANY questions, PM me. I earned (as well as all my brothers) my Eagle with Troop 115 and Mr. Mecredy in the 70's.
Jeff,
Would such a resolution also demand the reduction in city employees to compensate for the reduction in work they should be performing as well as a commensurate tax reduction?
I think Edgewater is a disgrace, especially compared to its potential. Opinions vary, but if you just drive by the park and do not spend time in the park then you do not know what is going on in the park. I realize the atmosphere and level of litter, etc. may vary by the day and time.
I am not implying that the city of Cleveland would necessarily do better.
Maybe Lakewood Park should be turned over to the national parks like some of the seashores in Virginia and/or Delaware, since I believe a lot of the money for the peninsula would have come from the federal government.
To Bryan: Commensurate tax deducation? YOU ARE DREAMING! haha
The pictures provided by Danielle M. prompted me to call Lakewood's office of parks (529-6815). I was told that:
- Trash/litter is supposed to be picked-up on a daily basis.
- Mulch comes in once a year in early July - $5,000 worth - to cover bare spots and meet overall depth requirements. (This leaves users with 3 plus months of bare spots and mud/dirt between now and then.)
- There seems to be no replacement parts should swings, "tire dragons" or other components break or become inoperable.
David Anderson wrote:prompted me to call Lakewood's office of parks
Thanks for making that call.
David Anderson wrote:
- Trash/litter is supposed to be picked-up on a daily basis.
And if it isn't picked up, who is responsible? Who is held accountable?
David Anderson wrote:
- There seems to be no replacement parts should swings, "tire dragons" or other components break or become inoperable.
Geez. If an outsider read that, they might think this was a thread about a poor inner city ghetto... well, maybe not that bad. But seriously, no spare parts for swings? Geez.
But that's another thread......
