The Observation Deck

They are now using the courts for bicycle polo. Joe Beno said they are evaluating the need and condition of tennis courts across the city.

In the interest of implementing other park improvements, basketball is no longer an issue Kauffman Park Friends is pursuing. The fenced in courts are off the table and there is no other place in the park where it will work. With the baseball field in the middle of the park, every other location is also too close to neighbors or other activities, with no option for a sound barrier or supervision.

Looking back, basketball in that location was a problem for the Lakeland neighbors. A sound barrier helped, and a heavier and higher one would have solved the problem in my opinion. But the city said such a sound barrier is too expensive.

Summers thought that opening a tiny half court at Wagar Park was suffice.

Um, no. No, he didn't. I'm under the impression that he put in 3 new half court basketball courts - one at each of the new elementary schools. I know this because I now listen to the thud, thud, thud... CLAAAAAANNNNGGGGG of the new basketball court/hoop from sun up to midnight or so (thank goodness someone decided to light that whole asphalt lot at night so that the hoop is never unusable). I grew up playing both organized basketball and pickup games at parks (big parks, with lots of grass and trees between the hoops and the neighborhood around the park). Its a great game and I feel there need to be plenty of places in our community to shoot hoops. But I'm pretty sure Stephen Curry would probably shoot about 75% standing on my front stoop because the basket is so damn close to all of our houses, and is backed by a 25' echoing brick wall with nothing but asphalt and a chain link fence on the opposite side. There is someone using that hoop every second, except during school (but sometimes then too).

I haven't registered an official complaint or called the police or anything like that. I tend not to do that stuff. I tend just to grumble about things to my neighbors and wife and on online bulletin boards like this. But I'm pretty annoyed with the situation. And if kids (and I say kids loosely because these are high school upperclassman and young adults, I'm sure) continue to congregate there between 9-midnite, that hoop WILL come down.

Todd

I can empathize, having neighbors with a hoop in their driveway. At times, I'd be sick of the noise, but it was just kids being kids, and it was my neighbors' kids who were great kids and who I liked very much. But it still could get annoying.

However, you do have to consider that living in a dense community like Lakewood, it's just a fact of life. The noise level is pretty high - doors slamming, cars revving, people talking at all hours, sirens, etc.

After a while, I hope the court noise becomes less noticeable for you. As is often the case, it will fade from your conscious attention.

Good luck.

Thanks, Bridget. I'm trying to give it a season or so to see if it calms down (I may grumble but I am the model of tolerance). Maybe everybody in the area wants to shoot a few hoops now that there is a hoop and by spring everyone will have already done that and go back to their normal lives where they don't even think about basketball, haha.

Regarding just living in Lakewood... been in this house for almost 18 years and it's never been noisy like this, and yes there has always been a school across the street. Except for the last two years when I got to stare at dozens of construction workers every time I looked out my window (for a good and noble cause of course). Also, I have no problem with back yard/driveway hoops, I have one myself. I have kids and I love all my neighbor kids too. These aren't the neighbors though, this is everyone from all the neighboring blocks and streets. You really can't compare a few neighbors playing ball for an hour or so to the constant usage that the hoop at the school is getting.

Regarding our density... that's why you don't just put a public hoop up where ever, the density argument is not one for more hoops, it's an argument against them.

During the last few years we lived in Lakewood, a neighbor behind us installed an above ground pool. The non-stop, top-of-their-lungs shrieking of those kids in that pool gave me a summer-long splitting headache for three years. I may be a bit biased (as I spent a lot time volunteering for LOBC with the kids at Kauffman Park Hoops) but I'll take the basketball noise over the pool noise ANY DAY!!

I probably could have complained ... but I just realized we lived in a VERY congested community and noise was going to be everywhere.

Peter Grossetti wrote:During the last few years we lived in Lakewood, a neighbor behind us installed an above ground pool. The non-stop, top-of-their-lungs shrieking of those kids in that pool gave me a summer-long splitting headache for three years. I may be a bit biased (as I spent a lot time volunteering for LOBC with the kids at Kauffman Park Hoops) but I'll take the basketball noise over the pool noise ANY DAY!!

I probably could have complained ... but I just realized we lived in a VERY congested community and noise was going to be everywhere.

Peter

You are missing a wonderful moment in Lakewood's history.

The video is better, you could hear the rap music.

Basketball courts are so boring, not street hockey! As much noise , guys shouting, and even blaring Rap Music out of their cars' stereos.

But none of the problems of the basketball courts you know, hundreds of pit bulls tied up outside the fence.

The amount of pure BS shoveled on residents by City Hall in this administration is staggering. They lie about lies!

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