Kauffman hoops closed?

[Dan Alaimo]

Does anyone know why the Kauffman hoops are now closed? They didn't tell the Friends group. There's a permanent looking sign saying that they are closed "temporarily." Every time I walk by there - and that's several times a week - it is very quiet and the players are usually very young. This has been the case ever since they opened the hoops court at Lakewood Park. I can't imagine it being noise/nuisance related.

[Peter Grossetti]

One neighbor (the same one) complained to city hall (repeatedly now for several years) and city hall caved in. Poor kids! You know, if you buy a house adjacent to a park you might expect to encounter the sounds of kids playing.

Word on the street is that a different site may be found for these hoops. By why shouldn't one of Lakewood's most popular and most used parks not include basketball hoops? I've got a few ideas why.

All the outdoor hoops in Lakewood should never have been (overnight) taken down in the first place. "Social Engineering" gone wrong.

Good luck, citizens of Lakewood. Apparently the only citizen voice listened to by city hall is the loud persistent one. Lakewood citizens need to coalesce and work together instead of dealing with issues that only affect their own neighborhood, block or backyard.

[marklingm]

Lakewood citizens need to coalesce and work together instead of dealing with issues that only affect their own neighborhood, block or backyard.

Oh, no, Mike Summers is dedicated to more hoops in Lakewood!

He said so!

Mayor Summers speaks of his dedication to more hoops with the next being at Lakewood Park

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10211&hilit

It appears that Mike Summers and his gang can't even keep a simple basketball court open and yet they want to increase our property taxes to run a City Hall recreation department and cut ribbons at the "Michael P. Summers Recreation Center and Natatorium" ... really?

Good grief!

The fact is that we have a NIMBY City Hall.

Hey, Mike Summers, here is a photo of a couple of kids playing basketball ... it's not scary, Mike ...





Matt

[Michael Deneen]

It's time for LOBC to saddle up and get back into the game.
I'd be willing to do anything I can to help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we7UfubNeqM

[Dan Alaimo]

We are now moving forward with organizational plans to implement the Kauffman Park master plan. We have a meeting coming up and if anyone is seriously interested in working with us - and the time has come to work, not talk - it's June 10, 7 p.m., multi-purpose room of the library.

Given that, now that we have a plan are going to be working it, I would not be happy to adjust it in a major way to accommodate the hoops relocation because someone is offended by the sounds of young kids playing basketball. I understood the concern when it was older kids and all that entails, but not this.

[marklingm]

We are now moving forward with organizational plans to implement the Kauffman Park master plan. We have a meeting coming up and if anyone is seriously interested in working with us - and the time has come to work, not talk - it's June 10, 7 p.m., multi-purpose room of the library.

Given that, now that we have a plan are going to be working it, I would not be happy to adjust it in a major way to accommodate the hoops relocation because someone is offended by the sounds of young kids playing basketball. I understood the concern when it was older kids and all that entails, but not this.

Dan,

Do you ever get the feeling that you are simply being played by City Hall?

It looks like Mayor Mike Summers and his gang may have declared, "No outdoor basketball for you, Kauffman Park and LOBC!"

Do you have any reason to believe that Mike Summers actually cares about your plans?

When members of City Council asked about the parks, Mayor Mike Summers jumped in to admonish anyone who would suggest that the parks aren't perfect and can be improved:

The first item of new business was a communication from Councilman Sam O’Leary (Ward II) on park safety, climate, and user conduct. In his communication Councilman O’Leary said that he knows that several of the points he raises have been ongoing conversations in Council and that he submitted his statement in the hopes of rekindling those conversations with renewed vigor. He said with the weather improving people will start flocking to the parks in greater numbers for many various activities. The challenge comes in making sure that one's uses of the park for their activity does not negatively impact the activities of others or the local residents. With countless uses for the parks, there are many areas of potential conflicts, however Councilman O’Leary states he has heard specific concerns about the skate park, outdoor basketball courts, offensive behaviors near Kid’s Cove, and the hours of operation of the facilities.

He said, "Our goal should be to enable family-friendly use of our busy parks by continuing to employ proactive, community-oriented strategies that facilitate adult presence in the parks and engage residents and stake holders."

Councilman Shawn Juris (Ward III) asked if Councilman O’Leary had any ideas about what solutions he might be looking for. He continued saying that many of the issues mentioned in the statement already have ordinances on the books to deal with them and if there are issues they need to be reported so they can be enforced.

Councilman O’Leary said that he did not have any specific legislation in mind, but rather wanted to start a conversation to review the current legislation to make sure it is accomplishing what it is meant to. Also he would like to involve some of the community partners as well as law enforcement and park security in the conversation so they can more fully deal with the spectrum of behaviors and issues being faced. He said that in his experience, and those of his constituents, it does not seem to be any one particular group of people or park that has issues, but that they arise from many varied uses at different times and at all the parks.

Mayor Summers said he was kind of confused by Councilman O’Leary’s letter. He said it made some pretty sharp specific points and that he thinks they deserve some serious scrutiny. He asked Councilman O’Leary to think about a series of questions for the discussion in the Public Safety Committee to help clarify his intent. The questions he asked were as follows: What issues do you believe have not been followed through regarding the City’s facilities? What groups are you referring to when you say one group’s use comes at the expense of another’s? Can you be more specific regarding the offensive behavior at the skate park and basketball courts? What offensive behavior did you reference in regards to Kid’s Cove?

Councilman O’Leary said he would be glad to clear those up in Committee.

After a few more points made by Councilman Juris and Councilman Tom Bullock (At-Large) Council referred the communication to the Public Safety Committee for discussion.

http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2014/05/13/council-to-revisit-use-of-parks

So, Dan, if Mike Summers is willing to publicly admonish elected/appointed officials who question whether the parks are perfect and whether there are ways to make the parks better, why is Mike closing the parks early and destroying hoop dreams?

It's hard to win when Team Summers keeps changing the rules of the game and taking the ball home.

Matt

[Peter Grossetti]

closed.jpg (616.83 KiB) Viewed 12977 times

[Danielle Masters]

I have no patience for people who buy a home near a park and then get upset at noise. It would be similar to me complaining about the train noises when I bought a home next to the tracks. The mayor needs to man up and tell that nosy neighbor to deal with it. I have no sympathy for the homeowner, none whatsoever. I feel bad for the kids, they need a place to play and that was a great place. The mayor needs to do the right thing and open the courts up now! The weather is nice, let the kids play.

[Jim O'Bryan]

A couple came down to play some tennis and found the courts closed.
They moved here to be close to work and the tennis courts and park near her their street.

The story was explained to them by someone far more qualified than I and he said, " "isn't
Lakewood supposed to be all about the best place to raise a family?"

.

[Craig Lovejoy]

I agree with Danielle. Whats next too much light coming from the baseball diamond?
OPEN THE COURTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Paul Schrimpf]

This actually calls for a pair of bolt cutters and a massive dose of civil disobedience.

[marklingm]

The mayor needs to man up and tell that nosy neighbor to deal with it.

Danielle,

Do you really think that will ever happen?

Matt

[marklingm]

Whats next too much light coming from the baseball diamond?

Funny you should say that, Craig.

Katie and I took our three boys to Kauffman Park to play some hoops on this wonderful day only to find out that Mayor Michael P. Summers locked all of Lakewood's children out of the Kauffman Courts.

When we walked down to the baseball diamond, the glare was rather bright.





Yet another dream waiting for Mike Summers and his gang to crush.

Matt

[Jim O'Bryan]

,

[Danielle Masters]

This actually calls for a pair of bolt cutters and a massive dose of civil disobedience.

I'm in

The mayor needs to man up and tell that nosy neighbor to deal with it.

Danielle,

Do you really think that will ever happen?

Matt

Of course not, it would be nice but I don't expect it from him.