Kauffman hoops closed?

[Stephanie Toole]

Please share to spread the word.

Lakewood City Council meeting, Monday June 2 @ 7:30pm....bring your basketballs.

[Betsy Voinovich]

One thing that should be brought up tonight is whether there is any action going on with Kauffman Park basketball court and the surrounding area besides the situation with the "crazy neighbor." Is he just the latest scapegoat in the efforts that are periodically made to "blight" the park, so residents can be frightened away while the city tries to sell it to someone like Cleveland Clinic?

I know that sounds crazy (as crazy as that neighbor) but there was once an idea brought up about making a school campus at Kauffman Park, as it is the most centrally located spot in Lakewood. The idea was that there could be a school and playing fields there. The school would have been where the (Empty, For Sale) church behind Taco Bell is now.

The idea was immediately shot down by an elected official who said that "there was a deal on the table with Cleveland Clinic" for the park. When the details of "the deal" were pursued, it suddenly disappeared. A deal that existed in the afternoon had disappeared by about 9pm that night. The same elected official then said, "That deal is off the table. That deal is dead."

Curious. We knew that the park hadn't been policed, Little Links had been allowed to fall into TOTAL disrepair, as if someone was TRYING to make the park seem dangerous.

Then there was the whole thing about the graffiti. How BAD KIDS AND FAMILIES must be going there, because it was overrun with graffiti, a fact that was proven to be false on this very Deck. And that led to the early closing of the park.

It's just too dangerous to be in Kauffman Park after sundown. What would good people have to do there after dark anyway? to paraphrase Councilman Juris.

It just hurts families and kids to not be able to go to a beautiful park at night in the middle of the summer. And there was the resident who was told that "she and her family" were not the people they were trying to keep out. She could go at night and no-one would stop her she was told by another city official. Wow. But that's for another post.

And now-- it's not the terrifying Little Links, or graffiti, now it's the crazy neighbor. If this guy really is crazy, how is it okay to let our toddlers swing and sometimes scream on those swings? Why do at least two of our elementary schools have their track and field days there?

Has anyone talked to this neighbor guy? At this point, he could probably come up with a pretty good character defamation lawsuit. He's a madman. The courts must be closed for our own safety. This is not the same woman with kids who complained several years ago. I don't mind if people think I'm paranoid (I am paranoid) but in the Hollywood version of this, the "angry neighbor" would be a paid actor, but you don't need one if you actually have one. Who makes the entire city cower before him.

What's really up at Kauffman Park? Has an interesting offer been made on the church, or on that total piece of property? Is Cleveland Clinic back wanting to put an Administrative Campus on the only green space (and basketball space) available to those who live in the center of the city?

This could be another case of the City saying, "Look over there!" and bounce your basketballs, while something else is going on that you're not supposed to be paying attention to.

Why do we need to think that any part of Kauffman Park is dangerous? Is there money to follow? There usually is.

I know Kauffman Park seems safer from being turned into a Wallmart or a parking lot, than it ever has, with the work of Kauffman Park Friends, and now LakewoodAlive's new plan---- but still. Maybe it's just too dangerous to have a park or any kids or families on the western side.

FWIW.

Betsy Voinovich

[marklingm]

Given the fact that Mayor Mike Summers continues to keep the basketball hoops closed at Kauffman Park due to an alleged "concern for public safety," Peet's Coffee & Tea just issued a special candy branded just for the 'Wood.

[Kate McCarthy]

One thing that should be brought up tonight is whether there is any action going on with Kauffman Park basketball court and the surrounding area besides the situation with the "crazy neighbor." Is he just the latest scapegoat in the efforts that are periodically made to "blight" the park, so residents can be frightened away while the city tries to sell it to someone like Cleveland Clinic?

....

What's really up at Kauffman Park? Has an interesting offer been made on the church, or on that total piece of property? Is Cleveland Clinic back wanting to put an Administrative Campus on the only green space (and basketball space) available to those who live in the center of the city?

This could be another case of the City saying, "Look over there!" and bounce your basketballs, while something else is going on that you're not supposed to be paying attention to.

Why do we need to think that any part of Kauffman Park is dangerous? Is there money to follow? There usually is.

Kauffman Park is prime real estate in a built-out city. Betsy raises some very good points.

[Dan Alaimo]

Kauffman Park is prime real estate in a built-out city. Betsy raises some very good points.[/quote]

Kauffman Park Friends, working with Lakewood Alive, has plans that if implemented would ensure development will never be considered again. We need to raise money, though. Come join with us. We have an organizational meeting scheduled for June 10, 7 pm, at the library. This meeting is not to talk issues, like the hoops, but rather to form a structure to implement the plan.

[marklingm]

This meeting is not to talk issues, like the hoops, but rather to form a structure to implement the plan.

Dan,

I believe that the plan existed before Mayor Mike Summers declared his alleged friend to be an alleged "credible concern for public safety near the park."

I also believe that the plan existed before Mayor Mike Summers closed the basketball hoops at Kauffman Park due to this alleged "credible concern for public safety near the park."

Does the plan already include the alleged "credible concern for public safety near the park?"

Does the plan already include the hoops at Kauffman Park?

Shouldn't we know how the plan includes hoops at Kauffman Park and addresses the "credible concern for public safety near the park" before we start to form a structure to implement the plan?

Matt

[Dan Alaimo]

Yes, we've been working on the plan for years now, and it has been approved since mid last year.
We still can discuss issues, but for some time now, we have established this meeting as a time to get our organization in order. We have plenty besides the hoops to work on and we desperately don't want to see the meeting sidetracked - time is precious, especially in an evening meeting at the library. If you would like to head up a committee to consider hoops at Kauffman, you would be very welcome, and that would be an appropriate action for this particular meeting

[Jim O'Bryan]

Yes, we've been working on the plan for years now, and it has been approved since mid last year.
We still can discuss issues, but for some time now, we have established this meeting as a time to get our organization in order. We have plenty besides the hoops to work on and we desperately don't want to see the meeting sidetracked - time is precious, especially in an evening meeting at the library. If you would like to head up a committee to consider hoops at Kauffman, you would be very welcome, and that would be an appropriate action for this particular meeting

For those that have not followed the ongoing discussions about Kauffman Park, Plans and the good work of Friend of Kauffman Park...



See the entire document online at:
http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/media/docs_1361210202.pdf

.

[Dan Alaimo]

Thanks for posting the plan, Jim.

[Jim O'Bryan]

It is outrageous that City Hall closes parks because of noise and then tries to push through a large sports bar/brew pub
open till 2:00am every night in the middle of a "quiet safe neighborhood.''

WTF?

We all have that friend we like and want to respect but alcohol has clouded their mind and they become their own worst
enemy trying to convince everyone through half truths and mistruths that they are doing great and don't have a serious
problem with alcohol.



Lakewood City Hall, please listen, we love you, seek help.

.

[Michael Deneen]

Ed FitzGerald was on Munch Bishop's radio show tonight on ESPN Cleveland to promote his "win tax" idea.

Munch asked about his decision to bring Lakewood hoops back in 2009.
Fitz did a very good job addressing the issue.
Here is a link to the clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtvoiUDUkb4

[Stephen Eisel]

So, Lakewood school children were allowed to take field trips to Kauffman Park when there was a "credible concern for public safety near the park." What is being done to neutralize this "concern"?

[Ryan Salo]

So, Lakewood school children were allowed to take field trips to Kauffman Park when there was a "credible concern for public safety near the park." What is being done to neutralize this "concern"?

It appears there isn't a threat if it is during the regular hours. The mayor even said the kids at the park are in no danger during the park hours. The resident was just consistently upset that the Mayor cannot open and close the hoops at the correct hours.

I drove by Wagar just now and noticed nothing has been done yet. I guess the Mayor agrees with one of the council members I spoke with that said "let's keep things in perspective, it is only a basketball hoop"...

Has anyone been told a time frame on when wagar will get the hoop?

[Dan Alaimo]

My understanding is they are going to start Wagar off with a movable hoop - something better than your typical driveway equipment. That way they can move it elsewhere if there is a problem. That shouldn't take long to acquire.

[marklingm]

Dan and Ryan,

It is my understanding that Mayor Mike Summers has reached a leadership quandary, again.

Mayor Mike Summers closed the Kauffman Park hoops because his alleged neighbor friend is an alleged "credible concern for public safety near the park." That equals one alleged "credible concern for public safety near the park."

Now many neighbors near Wagar Park have complained to Mayor Mike Summers because they believe that opening even one hoop at Wagar Park will create an alleged "credible concern for public safety near the park." That equals numerous alleged "credible concerns for public safety near the park."

Now, all of these concerns are faux public safety concerns.

But Mayor Mike Summers backed himself into a corner.

Matt