No Fun Allowed

[Dave Mechenbier]

I walked by (not through!) Kauffman park about 8:00 tonight. So sad to see a totally empty park on a perfect night for sledding. Kauffman might not have the biggest hill for sledding on the west side but I know our kids enjoyed it both in the daylight and at night when they were younger.

[Betsy Voinovich]

I walked by (not through!) Kauffman park about 8:00 tonight. So sad to see a totally empty park on a perfect night for sledding. Kauffman might not have the biggest hill for sledding on the west side but I know our kids enjoyed it both in the daylight and at night when they were younger.

Hi Dave--

Yeah, I know, taking a night hike with the kids to Drug Mart for some exercise, it pains me to look in that direction-- it would be so much better to stop by the park and do some little kid sledding. The snow was sparkling. It was such a great thing about being in Lakewood, that it was safe and small enough to grab your sleds and go sledding before bed, and on a school night! I'm talking at about maybe 7 pm. to 8 pm, and home for hot chocolate, teeth brushing and baths. I'm glad that my younger family was here for the days when Lakewood was like that.

And I'm very aware that we could have that back if that rule was changed, that rule that none of us had a say in.

Good news is that Lakewood Alive and Kauffman Park Friends seem to be working hard to come up with bringing the park alive again. I hope one of the main things on their agenda is changing the closing time back to what it was before. That one move improves the reputation of the park, and the image of our city enormously.

You mean we can afford to keep the park open? You mean we are safe enough to let our families use our public park in during these magical winter evenings? We're not poor and dangerous?

It's so sad to think about it, I don't want to talk about it anymore.

I think as many people as possible should attend that Kauffman Park meeting-- maybe with a petition started? The meeting is next week. I'll get the time and come back on here and post.

Thanks for the sweet memory, Dave.

Betsy Voinovich