Kauffman Park - Plans to Redevelop?

[Kate McCarthy]

Paul-

There is a master plan, but plans change. There is a study being done. We may hear the results in about a month.

There is also a process that has to take place before anything moves forward, including public hearings.

Including public hearings? I certainly hope I am wrong but I'm getting the impression that the mainstreet meetings may serve as a proxy for the public meetings around the issue and those meetings were not well publicized nor well attended.

I'm getting a very bad feeling about all this and the absence of the mayor or a member of his staff, the ward 2 councilperson and the council-persons-at-large in this discussion makes me fear that the fix is in and Kaufmann park may be history.

I do think Kaufmann Park has long been a victim of neglect. But the park has potential, and when I look at a google map of Lakewood, those patches of green are in short supply. When tiny little Edwards park jumps out at you, you know you are in trouble. I also think Kaufmann park is unfairly associated with the strip shopping center. And I would like to know where the lines between city and public property are drawn in that area.

A viable Kaufmann Park is perfectly situated to serve a much larger portion of the population than any development adjacent to Lakewood Park. And I would guess that a much larger percentage of Lakewood's population lives within a half mile walk of Kaufmann Park than those that live a half mile from Lakewood or Madison parks. And if the park can be revitalized in concert with Mainstreet, great. But to sacrifice the park for some "mixed use development" that could be accomplished elsewhere is not in the best interest of Lakewood.

[Bill Call]

I'm getting a very bad feeling about all this and the absence of the mayor or a member of his staff, the ward 2 councilperson and the council-persons-at-large in this discussion makes me fear that the fix is in and Kaufmann park may be history.

While I like the idea of building a new park across from the library and selling Kauffman Park I understand and agree with the concerns of those who fear the loss of green space.

That is why I am opposed to the administrations proposal to sell the park to fund current operating expenses and a small green space on Detroit.

The State of Ohio offers grants to communities for the purchase and improvement of parks as part of the Natureworks Grant program.

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/default/tabi ... fault.aspx

I wonder if Lakewood has ever used this program?

A properly planned Kaufman-Rockport (name your space) park/development could increase the amount of parkland and the property tax base in Lakewood.

We can have the best of both worlds.

At the risk of sounding cranky - Bold, innovative thinking can turn an eyesore into an opportunity but in world of City government three of the words in this sentence are verboten. Can you guess which three?

[Kenneth Warren]

Bill:

I think we are pretty much on the same page here. But I want to tease out a few nuances.

I took a quick scan of the latest awards. The highest grant was $90K. Most were quite a bit lower.

Here is where, strange to say it, I turn a bit more libertarian than you, Bill, in that I often see grants from government creating distortions in government entities attempting to execute with clarity of purpose and effect.

While I can handle contradictions, I would note that, to my ear, you seem on the cusp of one, at least in your invocation of innovation and government grants.

Chasing and obtaining easy dollars makes easy street seem all too easy.

Kenneth Warren

[Bill Call]

While I can handle contradictions, I would note that, to my ear, you seem on the cusp of one, at least in your invocation of innovation and government grants.

That's true.

I am actually opposed to this whole program. As I recall I voted against the bond issue. Bond issues like this simply provide employment for people in Columbus and walking around money for politicians. Lower my taxes and I'll build my own playground. I don't need or want Columbus as a middle man.

However, Lakewood is a multi level colony providing funding to State and County Bureaucracies that give little in return. This is a chance to get some of our money back.

Of course, in the big scheme of things we are talking small potatoes.

[Richard Cole]

I'm getting a very bad feeling about all this and the absence of the mayor or a member of his staff, the ward 2 councilperson and the council-persons-at-large in this discussion makes me fear that the fix is in and Kaufmann park may be history.

While I like the idea of building a new park across from the library and selling Kauffman Park I understand and agree with the concerns of those who fear the loss of green space.

That is why I am opposed to the administrations proposal to sell the park to fund current operating expenses and a small green space on Detroit.

From the drawings presented at at the third Mainstreet meeting earlier this week, the strip mall (DrugMart etc) was gone, replaced by two smaller buildings with a walkway/planter between, which would be roughly opposite the new library building. As an improvement to the Detroit streetscape, it looked very promising.

However, Foxx Field was gone - replaced by "mixed use development".

I am in favor of the concepts behind improving the Detroit Streetscape, but not at the expense of losing a centrally located open space where kids can throw a ball 100+ feet.

Last night, I popped in DM on the way home, and a group of kids were playing a pick-up game. No adults, just kids playing a game, in the center of our city, in our open space.

I fear that the "green space" (tree planters etc) created in the streetscape plans are being exchanged for Foxx/Kaufmann and that there seems to to be some sort of deal that the City Administration seemed very reluctant to discuss when questioned at the 3rd public meeting.

If Foxx/Kaufmann has been the subject of discussions with mixed use developers, or even a sale, the proposed streetscape walkway/planter opposite the Library is not an adequate replacement, and no-one in the Adminstration offered any information about any other large open space (117th/Rockport) where kids and adults can play baseball or any other activity that requires space.

[Brian Pedaci]

There's a fairly large diamond at Cove Park which seems underutilized.

[Dee Krupp]

There's a fairly large diamond at Cove Park which seems underutilized.

And highly unkempt.

[Brian Pedaci]

That goes without saying.

[Shawn Juris]

The diamonds at Lakewood park or the valley come up often in this discussion. It seems convenient to ignore that they do not offer the same amenities as Foxx Field. Some of these amenities can be installed such as bleachers, scoreboards and fences. Others can not be such as the proximity to residents or the size of the field. In the case of the 2 fields at Lakewood park; Stonehouse is a little league field which presents issues to vehicle traffic with foul balls being sent into Lake Ave and has a utility pole in the middle of right field that would need to be moved, the second field would likely need to be reconfigured since it is sandwiched between the Kiwannis pavilion and the walking path. While it would be fantastic to draw games to Lakewood park there are limitation of space to be considered. This is not to say that it should not be investigated but in it's present state it is not an existing alternative to Foxx Field. As for the fields in the valley, they are used for softball and are clearly a step down from Foxx, Usher or LHS north. Great backup plan, but speaking of backup the cup runneth over down there everytime it rains which tends to happen often in our summer months. If game schedules depend on games being played in the valley primarily then a 10 week season should be able to start in May and end sometime before the first snowfall.

[John Walsh]

There's a fairly large diamond at Cove Park which seems underutilized.

.

Only children under the age of ten can use Cove Park for baseball or softball, it is way too small for any children older than that to use the field. Its even too small for Little League.

Please remember everyone that if Foxx Field at Kaufmann Park is eliminated, only ONE regulation size baseball field would remain within the entire city of Lakewood for boys ages 14 and up, just one, and that is the turf field at LHS which is not open to the public. Plans are already underway to remove the field across from the LHS Civic Center due to the high school renovation.

[Brian Pedaci]

Ah, looking at aerial shots, I can see that field is measurably smaller than the other two. Expanding to the same dimensions would put home plate right up against the houses on Arliss Ave.

[Gary Rice]

Save Foxx FIELD! Save Foxx FIELD! Save Foxx FIEEEEEEELD!

(and Little Links too- I spent some memorable times with my dad and dear late mom there. We NEED more family activities like this one!)

[Dan Shields]

FYI -

I attended the Tuesday eve. City Council meeting, and was able to raise the issue of any possible decisions concerning Kauffman Park. Director Jordan spoke at length on the situation. He indicated that the plans we have heard about were actually drawings/designs reflective of the Detroit Ave. Main Street Project. This was done as part of a $75,000 study funded in part by NOACA.

In any event, he stated that there were currently NO plans in the works concerning Kauffman Park, that in the event any surface there would be ample opportunity for public discussion, and that these discussions would include council and the public.

As far as I know, as of now, this is the official city position.

Dan Shields

[Stephanie Toole]

Why did Little Links really close?

Any chance it will reopen?

I have heard several conflicting stories.

We miss it. It was a great bargin. A fun activity for the family and friends.

Sure was bummed when it closed.

[Shawn Juris]

It would seem to me that the answer to why Little Links closed may be in the comment that followed about it being a great bargain. I remember hearing a number of discussions right after it was closed that may not have told the whole story but certainly painted a picture. The picture that I got was that if as many people were going there each week as had called to complain about it's closure, then maybe it wouldn't have had to close. The one time that I went there seemed to be representative of the usage of the area- a handful of people taking their turn on a minature golf course while a security guard and a teenage clerk were kept on staff. I would suspect that there is a cost/benefit consideration much like the diamonds or Winterhurst that Little Links was just not coming out ahead on. It was an interested little hidden away alternative for family oriented entertainment. Question still is how often it would be used to determine if it would be self sufficient or be run at a loss.