Lakewood Park At The Breaking Point?

[Bill Call]

Paving over portions of Lakewwod Park for additional parking spaces was sold as a means to alleviate the parking shortage.
That solution has made the problem worse.

Last night the lot was full, so full that cars were parked on the crosswalks, so full that there were long lines of cars snaking through the parking lot looking for an open spot.

People were coming from far and wide to use the Park and to use Foster Pool. Foster pool was so full Lakewood residents were turned away. So full that a uniformed police officer had to be stationed on the deck of the pool.

Can you improve a Park so much that you destroy it?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Paving over portions of Lakewwod Park for additional parking spaces was sold as a means to alleviate the parking shortage.
That solution has made the problem worse.

Last night the lot was full, so full that cars were parked on the crosswalks, so full that there were long lines of cars snaking through the parking lot looking for an open spot.

People were coming from far and wide to use the Park and to use Foster Pool. Foster pool was so full Lakewood residents were turned away. So full that a uniformed police officer had to be stationed on the deck of the pool.

Can you improve a Park so much that you destroy it?

Bill

This all came about when there was a monumental switch in thinking. The concept of Lakewood, Ohio of the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80, 90s was make this the best place to live and raise a family. A very noble thought, and Lakewood succeeded more than it should have.

In the 2000s, a very small group of residents and businesses decided, Lakewood would be better situated as a destination town. Their first plan as you know was for high end shopping on Warren and Detroit, after promising the world, Marcs arrived. Marcs ended up a better fit than anything in their human habit rail dream. But as they rose to power they decided, more restaurants and bars, less hospitals and medical stuff.

When you enter the destination business you have to style the city to attract thousands, and what locals needs goes out the window.

And what you end up with is a city not really good at doing either. Schools start down sizing, stores start to close, attitudes change, and "cool" is so fleeting only a fool chases it.

The entire problem can be easily solved, do the same as Bay Village.

This has been the cure to our park issues since the start of the paper.

Make it, "Residents or people accompanied by Residents ONLY" the same thing they do at their private club. This does not mean you have to check every person at the beach, but if someone is causing trouble the police have a reason to ask for an ID. When it gets crowded people trying to park could be asked for ID.

While we are on it, if we are a destination city, why do locals pay for parking? Why aren't the parks charging non-residents for parking. Hs to be some Non-profit that could use the $$$$$.

Interesting days ahead.