to have breakfast more often in the past, when he was School Board President, but
his business of defending school districts, and my business interests see us both busy, and
going in opposite directions.
For those that do not know us, we a polar opposites, in damn near everything in life. So I
thought it would be good to have breakfast with him, so to hear and experience both
sides. (See Separate Stories under "The Devil Is Coming To Lakewood thread)
During that "Bob Evans" style meal at Bob Evans, we got into a discussion about traffic
lights, basketball courts, parks, and well everything. We couldn't agree on anything! So
finally I said to him, "we need this city to be more like Ashland, Ohio." I mean I love Lakewood
I have said for decades, "Same density as Los Angles, same mindset as Mayberry RFD." So
I meant hang on to that hometown feel.
He questioned why Ashland, and I mentioned, they have full basketball courts, swimming
pools opened early, parks without closing times. He laughed and mentioned, "I used to
teach at Ashland University, and I do not see it as progressive as Lakewood in many ways,
though it would seem there is enough respect for both history, residents, business, and
education to make a well balanced city, but he could not remember the basketball courts.
So, I said, let's go check it out, and we did. Here are the photos and videos of our findings.
As you can imagine, the only thing worse than driving to Ashland with Matt Markling would
be going with me. Hmmmmmmm, maybe I can convince him Obama is not Satan.
Feeling full after Bob Evans, we hit I-71. Matt would be described as a capable driver. He
doesn't speed in legal terms, but he uses every mph he can.
The first thing I notice in this park near the center of town, is they are a lot like Lakewood.
They even have a Chautauqua thingy going on.
Within sight of their baseball field! I mean come on, our twin.
We found the hoops, set up for 1 full game, 2 half court games, of 4 tight half court games.
You can see the pool in the back, the courts are right on the street with residential directly
across from them.
They also had a nice amphitheater to the right of the courts. Like what is being promised
by the City of Lakewood for Kauffman Park.
You can see how much this would add to our premiere downtown park. I counted 2,080
seats in a layout similar to Blossom.
Even the back was nice.
As we were leaving the park, we encountered a crosswalk that had markings not just like
I have never seen, but they did not even look the same corner to corner.
So we stopped and checked it out.
AS you can see, the drivers there are just as confused or illegal as Lakewood drivers. I still
maintain yellow lights mean "slow/careful" red lights mean "stop" Flashing yellow as I have
always stated is just wrong.
While their Taco Bell was no better than ours, their Wendy's was HUGE...
This lot and building is just for overflow!
At "Fur, Fin and Feather" on the way back we noticed long lines of gun safes with sold on
them then headed off to Ashland's number 3 favorite tourist attraction off I-71, Grandpas
Cheese Barn!
Ashland was nice, but it was no Lakewood.
.
prefer bending sunlight every morning at Panera
