The Observation Deck

I was speaking to a Lakewood Police Officer the other night about Kauffman Park hoops. He said that he recently responded to a call from the neighbor about a father and daughter practicing shooting hoops at 9:50am. The reason for the police call was that it was 10 minutes before the court was technically open!?!

All of the complaints seem to be around folks playing before and after the posted hours. This seems to be a very simple fix. Have someone unlock them at 10am and lock them at 8pm. This appears to just be a failure of city hall to be able to be accountable to the hours they made up.

Can you imagine how terrible rec games will be if the city is just as reliable for youth sports games as they are for 1 court?

Lakewood - Run by a mayor that acts like he inherited the city (appointed and ran unopposed), and runs it like a family business he didn't have to build from the ground up. (no real customers to keep happy - he hasn't had many folks ever financially support him, he just gave himself the funds, so he has very very few supporters that feel like they have skin in the game with him)

I thought that after the snow plow and rta sidewalk issues this mayor would have learned that the city wants him to lead and leadership involves communication. I sure hope this is a wake up call to him and he starts properly communicating.

Being a lifelong resident of Lakewood for 58 years maybe somebody can clear this up for me. If I recall correctly there were no basketball hoops at Kauffman Park until just recently, right? They were put in there in reaction to the city taking down all the outdoor courts around the city, correct? They were installed in what was previously a tennis court. I am not taking sides here but I believe that the occasional sound of a tennis game is nowhere near as loud and boisterous as a dribbling ball and a basketball game.

Bill Burnett wrote:Being a lifelong resident of Lakewood for 58 years maybe somebody can clear this up for me. If I recall correctly there were no basketball hoops at Kauffman Park until just recently, right? They were put in there in reaction to the city taking down all the outdoor courts around the city, correct? They were installed in what was previously a tennis court. I am not taking sides here but I believe that the occasional sound of a tennis game is nowhere near as loud and boisterous as a dribbling ball and a basketball game.

Bill the short overview, there were hoops throughout the city for decades. The City of
Cleveland starting removing their nets for "safety" Lakewood panicked fearing gangs of
Cleveland kids coming into Lakewood for basketball would bring the lawbreakers and drug
dealers in. All courts in Lakewood disappeared almost over night. Except the ones at
Clifton Beach.

Parents lead by Stephanie Toole, Art Gold LO's Peter Grossetti and Nadhal Eadeh started
LOBC to bring courts back to Lakewood. LOBC gets a massive following, Ed FitzGerald who
is running for higher office "gives them, with Mike on council" half courts, promising
more in the future that were never coming.

LOBC raises a stink, City Hall promises courts at Lakewood Park, agreeing to pay for half
of the cost. LOBC raises the money for the courts, as the city tells them, "We can no longer
afford to keep our promise, you must pay for everything." LOBC raises enough to pay for
everything, and city hall balks and finally gives in.

I am sure the resident, feels real pain with every bounce.

But that doesn't make any of it right.

I believe the military would call the entire exercise FUBAR.

Now if you want the story on the park, and the resident you have to go back another 10
years, to understand how his power grew along with his frustration and control.

I believe the military would call the entire exercise FUBAR.

To be honest I see the removal of the courts as vandalism, and asking resident to raise
money and pay more, a total outrage. Especially as City Hall burns through cash for
"Hotel Studies" with friends, (Value 1 court) "Community outreach to the poor" where the
facilitator had ZERO experience with poor or as a facilitator 2 days, (Value 1 court), or
now where the city is spending $23,500 to facilitate the take over of our very successfully
run Rec Department, (Value 2 courts). Way finding that does not even point the way to
popular things like Civic Center, Football Stadium, Lakewood High or Board of Education.
(Value 15 full courts)

FWIW

.

As soon as those hoops were padlocked, Mayor Mike Summers knew that basketball would never return to Kauffman Park.

It’s too bad we have such a bullheaded mayor.

I just can’t wait to see how City Hall’s “Ministry of Misinformation” spins this most recent attack on our residents.

Matthew John Markling wrote:As soon as those hoops were padlocked, Mayor Mike Summers knew that basketball would never return to Kauffman Park.

I heard he is looking at moving them to Wagar park. I hope the delay in making the announcement is because he is interviewing and doing a psych evaluation on everyone within a stone throw of that new location to make sure we aren't held hostage by another neighbor 2 years from now...

Bill Burnett wrote: I believe that the occasional sound of a tennis game is nowhere near as loud and boisterous as a dribbling ball and a basketball game.

Bill - I have two words for you: John McEnroe.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekQ_Ja02gTY

Ryan Salo wrote:

Matthew John Markling wrote:As soon as those hoops were padlocked, Mayor Mike Summers knew that basketball would never return to Kauffman Park.

I heard he is looking at moving them to Wagar park. I hope the delay in making the announcement is because he is interviewing and doing a psych evaluation on everyone within a stone throw of that new location to make sure we aren't held hostage by another neighbor 2 years from now...

Ryan,

That's too bad and just sad.

It appears that Mayor Mike Summers is simply misleading our residents and families ... not to mention practicing psychology without a license.

It makes me wonder what role City Council plays in advocating for our residents and families when the Mayor goes rogue.

It also makes me wonder whether this neighbor will seek legal action against Mayor Mike Summers for making an entire city believe that he is a "credible concern for public safety near the park."

Matt

[quote="Peter Grossetti"]
Bill - I have two words for you: John McEnroe.
[/quote]

Seeing as how John McEnroe isn't using those courts and even if he were, his tantrums were always directed at the referees. Since we have neither John McEnroe or referees at those courts your point is invalid

[quote="Jim O'Bryan"]
Bill the short overview, there were hoops throughout the city for decades. The City of
Cleveland starting removing their nets for "safety" Lakewood panicked fearing gangs of
Cleveland kids coming into Lakewood for basketball would bring the lawbreakers and drug
dealers in. All courts in Lakewood disappeared almost over night. Except the ones at
Clifton Beach.
[/quote]

Jim I am well aware of all the issues. My point is there never was, until recently, a basketball court at Kauffman Park. You can't argue the fact that basketball court that gets considerable use has considerably more ambient noise than a seldom used tennis court. I'm not backing what this guy on Lakeland did in regards to threats, just pointing out that there are two sides to this story.

[quote="Ryan Salo"]
I heard he is looking at moving them to Wagar park. I hope the delay in making the announcement is because he is interviewing and doing a psych evaluation on everyone within a stone throw of that new location to make sure we aren't held hostage by another neighbor 2 years from now...[/quote]

Now that location makes much more sense than Kauffman Park. Wide open with no houses backing up to the park.

Bill Burnett wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Bill the short overview, there were hoops throughout the city for decades. The City of Cleveland starting removing their nets for "safety" Lakewood panicked fearing gangs of Cleveland kids coming into Lakewood for basketball would bring the lawbreakers and drug dealers in. All courts in Lakewood disappeared almost over night. Except the ones at Clifton Beach.

Jim I am well aware of all the issues. My point is there never was, until recently, a basketball court at Kauffman Park. You can't argue the fact that basketball court that gets considerable use has considerably more ambient noise than a seldom used tennis court. I'm not backing what this guy on Lakeland did in regards to threats, just pointing out that there are two sides to this story.

Bill,

As a point of clarification, there has only been one side of this story shared on the Deck or in the media - i.e., the side of Mayor Mike Summers.

And some stories are simply fairytales.

We have yet to hear the side of the alleged neighbor who Mayor Mike Summers has diagnosed to be a "credible concern for public safety near the park."

Matt

Update: A half court will be added to Wagar Park within the next week or so. I will keep everyone posted as I receive additional details.

Please note that the Kauffman Park Basketball Courts will remain locked until further notice. On behalf of the LOBC we want everyone to know that we do not plan to relocate nor do we agree with the idea of relocating the Kauffman Park basketball courts. In fact, we strongly support the Kauffman Park master plan which includes basketball and have always appreciated the support of Dan Alaimo and the Kauffman Park Friends.

After the Mark Vincent Dickens (MVD) basketball courts opened up at Lakewood Park in the fall of 2012, Kauffman evolved into a court that attracted elementary and middle school aged kids which was the original intent and the reason we raised money for Lakewood Park. Since Lakewood Park opened, Kauffman has seen a rapid decline in basketball usage. As previously stated in other posts, the average age at Kauffman is about 10 years old.

In Sum, the Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Committee has raised over $30,000 for public outdoor courts and Lakewood parents have volunteered over a 1,000 hours to give Lakewood children a healthy outlet to play sports.

Nadhal

Great! I am all for additional basketball courts, additional being the key word. The courts at Kauffman still need to be re-opened. Noise coming from a park is no reason to be upset, the answer to homeowners that do not like noise coming from the park is to move, not to get rid of the kids.

I'll preface this by saying it should not matter, but Wagar Park has an entire row of double homes facing the courts .. not sure it matters whether it's the front of the house or the back, a bounced ball sounds the same.

I just spoke with my aunt who lives across from the park on Orchard Grove. They have not been contacted... This could open up another can of words... This mayor seems unable to properly communicate and plan, he just reacts and reacts and reacts...