No Basketball on Saturday?

[Mike Deneen]

Like many people,I was pleased to see outdoor basketball return to Lakewood at Kauffman Park. I think it's important that the city expand basketball, either through more outdoor hoops (Lakewood Park seems ideal) or via community access to school gyms. Our increasingly obese population needs access to healthy activity....if they don't get it in Lakewood, they will move to competing suburbs that have community rec centers.

I was disappointed to hear today via LOBC that the city is closing the new courts on Saturdays. The decision to close the park seems a negative omen for the future of Lakewood basketball.

I am aware that some in the area are unhappy with the courts. I also heard that one resident went Bufurd Pusser and showed up with a baseball bat.

Is today's development the beginning of the end, or just a bump in the road? Thoughts.

[Corey Rossen]

Maybe it was for the good of the game? I hear those South by Southwest winds can be terrible on an outside jump shot. It saves the embarrassment of the outsider shooter and only rewards the post-up players. Maybe next Saturday will be calmer weather and the courts will open up.

I hear that Bocce Ball is practically weatherproof.

Corey

[sharon kinsella]

And with Bocce Ball there's no fear of anyone having to worry about black and hispanic kids. You know "there goes the neighborhood".

[Ryan Salo]

I think this is proof our elected officials are not concerned with the less fortunate. For a completely democrat city council, you would think helping less fortunate kids would be high on a list especially when it costs so little. The city should just open more hoops up to spread out the players so each spot is less crowded. It is ashame one crazy resident, who chose to live next to a PARK, can influence the mayor and monique smith so much. This is an embarrassing moment for democrats in this town. These kids need a place to spend their free time, our city leaders are droppoing the ball...

[sharon kinsella]

OMG I agree with you Ryan and you actually spoke very eloquently.

I'm more ill than I thought.

[Ryan Salo]

Sharon,
We need to remember this day.

[Ryan Salo]

One more thing, with child obesity at all time highs and unemployment at high levels we need to have cheap or free recreation for kids and young adults. The only sports we provide space for, tennis and baseball have more expensive equipment and cant be dont by yourself. A basketball costs very little and the hoops are less than 1000 installed. We can convert a handful of the extra tennis courts accross the city and provide opporunity for these kids and young adults. Just imagine if there were a dozen spots to play and little kids could even use them because the bigger kids would be spread out. This is such a simple solution but our city leaders are so fearful of the "kinds" of people it attracts. We need leaders that have the courage to do what is right in the face of adversity. Sure you will tick off a few residents that are racist and closed minded but it is the right thing to do.

[Scott Meeson]

It is ashame one crazy resident, who chose to live next to a PARK, can influence the mayor and monique smith so much. This is an embarrassing moment for democrats in this town. These kids need a place to spend their free time, our city leaders are droppoing the ball...

Ryan,

What caught my eye(Press Release) was that this was a joint decision by the LOBC and Mayor Summers. There appears to be agreement that this needed to be done.

Maybe we're headed toward some "intellectual floundering" on this issue.

Scott

[J Hrlec]

Basketball is a sport for all people, I'm not sure why others are trying to relate it to income level or even race? Do less fortunate play it, yes, do more fortunate play it, yes, do all races play it, yes. It has nothing to do with this discussion unless you like conspiracy theories and pure ridiculousness.

Also, I agree that some choices are made, such as living near a park which come with some consequences. A similar case could be made about the McDonalds "controversy". I say they are one and the same...if you believe we should disrupt residents comfort due to poor placement planning, then lets get that McDonalds in place ASAP. People who live near the theater should expect this type of thing being near commercially zoned properties.

Lastly, from what I have read they are talking about restricted hours...not shutting shop down. I believe basketball all and other activities are definitely needed back in Lakewood... however, they need to sit back down look at the downfalls of the current implementation and revise the plan to make it stranger and more viable for both B-ball players and residents alike.

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

This community needs outdoor basketball and other places for our kids to play, to socialize, and to help them grow up to be healthy engaged citizens. I attended the Youth Forum over the winter. The kids on the panel were very clear about there not being enough for them to do in Lakewood. We are crowded with restaurants and bars—okay for adults, but not really good places for our kids. And now, the Detroit Theater is gone, too.

At the Lakewood Family Collaborative meetings we have discussed the issue of outdoor basketball. I have listened to the professionals who work with our kids & families everyday who say they are frustrated by this issue. They’ve explained that when we don’t have outdoor basketball here we are sending our kids into other communities and putting them in potentially harmful situations since they are the “Lakewood” kids at other courts. I hear the argument about Lakewood citizens not liking kids from other communities coming to Lakewood, and yet are we willing to send our kids away making them the outsiders in other communities? I know social workers who have actually driven our kids to other communities so that they can play basket ball (I know some parents have done this too). That should not be acceptable in our city. This is supposed to be the best place to raise a family. I want our kids to be able to stay here, at home, where we can look out for them.

Ryan, you mention city officials dropping the ball, but I would argue that the school board dropped the ball years ago when they banned outdoor basketball on school property. They created a gap and didn’t have the motivation to offer an alternative. Currently, the school board is considering whether or not to allow indoor basketball/open gym in the school buildings. They are debating this issue and I am not sure if they will approve it. At the last school board meeting, when this issue was discussed, many people left shaking their heads. Why can’t they move this forward and make it work? When the new schools were built the board promised the community access. During Phase 3 we learned that for the community to support more construction that they wanted more community access (it's our money). The cost of open gym would be minimal, or maybe they could get a grant/help from the community. A disconnect exists between the board and what kids and families want in this community.

[Nadhal Eadeh]

All,

To answer your questions, this is just a bump in the road for LOBC. This is something that we had been discussing with the Mayor for the past month. We know Mayor Summers is a big supporter of ours and will see this project through. Obviously with how many kids Kauffman Park attracts, you would think the city would add more courts?

I think it's important to put into perspective the dynamics at play in this town. In my opinion, there are too many places to eat and not enough places for kids to play.

Quite interesting as well to note the parallels between this discussion and the McDonald's debate on childhood obesity; we as an organization are big proponents of getting kids fit and moving. In fact, yesterday, I received a call from a father who was calling to complain that he was unable to play basketball with his son on such a beautiful day. Of course, I urged him to contact the Mayor and other elected officials. If we had other locations there wouldn’t be as much pressure on this park.

In January of this year we approached the city about adding a court to Lakewood Park. See the letter below:

http://lobc.org/letter-to-mayor-summers.html

Because this is the city's only outdoor court, it is jammed with kids on a daily basis. There are no lines drawn up either Corey so it favors post players

The average age at this court is 12 years old. A majority of the kids are from Grant Elementary and Harding Middle School. The two side by side hoops can become crowded and quite noisy when kids are playing and waiting for the next game. The ironic thing is that in recent weeks, the younger crowd ages (9-12) have pushed out the teenage crowd. The teenage crowd as Kristine has pointed out, drive to other cities to play basketball.

We also want to let you know that a summer open gym plan that LOBC pushed for (similar to a pool pass) has been proposed with school board members Matt Markling and Ed Favre facilitating the discussion on this important topic. This would add 3 nights a week of indoor basketball. Hopefully, this plan passes tomorrow night! We encourage you to contact other school board members to ensure its passage.

We also urge all of our supporters to attend the city council meeting tomorrow night at 7:30. See the link below for additional details:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=1 ... BCommittee

Please visit http://www.lobc.org to learn more about Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Committee and our mission. For any other inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us at committee@lobc.org.

Nadhal

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

We also want to let you know that a summer open gym plan that LOBC pushed for (similar to a pool pass) has been proposed with school board members Matt Markling and Ed Favre facilitating the discussion on this important topic. This would add 3 nights a week of indoor basketball. Hopefully, this plan passes tomorrow night! We encourage you to contact other school board members to ensure its passage.

Matt was unable to be at the last meeting when this topic was discussed to give his opinion, but I know that he has tried to make outdoor basketball and open gym work. Ed seemed willing to discuss the issue, but was concerned about cost. I don't recall John Kamkutis offering his opinion, and it seemed from at least my point of view, that Linda Beebe and Betsy Shaughnessy had many concerns. Additionally, I didn't hear much from the administration or Rick Berdine who have not been supportive of basketball in the schools previously.

I hope that the board will come to a favorable decision on this issue and allow for community access and indoor basketball/open gym. I couldn't agree with you more, Nadhal. If this is what people want in our community they need to call or email school board members and attend the school board meeting tomorrow night. Unfortunately, the Council meeting is also tomorrow night. I understand that outdoor basketball will be discussed there as well and so citizens will have to make a choice. This issue demonstrates the need for council or the school board to switch their meetings so that citizens can be engaged in all aspects of our city if they so choose.

[Nadhal Eadeh]

Kristine,

Thank you for your support! I have been notified that the school board meeting tomorrow night is at 6PM. See Matt Markling's post below from June 15th:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10196

Treasurer Richard Berdine wrote:The time of the Regular Board of Education Meeting scheduled for Monday, June 20, 2011, in the Art Atrium at Lakewood High School, 14100 Franklin Blvd., Lakewood, Ohio 44107, has been changed from 7:00 p.m. to a start time of 6:00 p.m.

Nadhal

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

Thank you for reminding all of us of the time change! I am glad to see this issue was placed at the top of the agenda with the opportunity for public comment to follow the discussion.

http://www.lakewoodcityschools.org/userfiles/2220/June%20Agenda%20-%202nd%20Board%20Meeting.pdf

[Michael Deneen]

Thanks for all the comments.
I hope this is just a bump in the road.

Personally, I think it's essential that the schools play a role in this issue....school facilities would have to part of hoops expansion, either via outdoor courts or open gym access.

Kristine has weighed in with some thoughts. What do any of the other school board candidates think about outdoor or indoor basketball for the kids?