The Observation Deck

The new hoop at Wagar Park.

As I was driving back home this morning I couldn't help but notice the nice brand new
white net hanging from the recently installed hoop and backboard at Wagar Park. So
I stopped and took a look.


The city crew was working their butts off getting the area ready, tightening up fences,
cleaning the area and getting it ready for more use.


I mentioned it seemed to go up pretty quick and easy. They nodded, then one mentioned...


"That backboard weighs a ton! It was a handful getting it up. But as soon as we level it
it is ready to go." I joked and said, "It's just a half court, how level does it have to be for
street pick up games? Shouldn't the backboard favor the locals?" He smiled and said, "As
soon as we have it leveled, it is good to go."


Standing at the foul line, I smiled. City crews when given the chance take amazing pride
in what they do. They are the foot soldiers, not really able to question the task, just go out
and get it done.

Thank you city crews for getting this hoop done, it is too bad, we didn't have enough hoops
up so that a court closed would not even be noticed, but another hoop, seems to be a good
idea, now let's see how it is accepted by the neighbors.

Better throw up another couple hoops, and maybe 2 full courts just east if the pool at
Madison Park, and even if we neighbor issues, we will be better prepared.

Thank you Mayor Summers, for trying to make everyone happy, in what at times
must seem like a thankless job.

.

52,000 people ... 3 outdoor hoops.

Wonder if I can get the nets back from the two former Kauffman Park hoops that I replace (out of my own pocket) at least three time a year. There are some outdoor hoops in Akron (where I move to next week) that could use them. No...never mind; the city workers can take those from Kauffman and use them as replacements at Wagar. Consider it a parting gift on my behalf.

Great job city workers! You know what else weighs a ton? The heavy hearts of kids who have extremely limited options to play ball outdoors.

[quote="Peter Grossetti"]

Great job city workers! You know what else weighs a ton? The heavy hearts of kids who have extremely limited options to play ball outdoors.[/quote]

When my kids were little I bought my own basketball pole & hoop and installed it next to my driveway. There is a unlimited supply of those at many stores.

Bill Burnett wrote:

Peter Grossetti wrote:Great job city workers! You know what else weighs a ton? The heavy hearts of kids who have extremely limited options to play ball outdoors.

When my kids were little I bought my own basketball pole & hoop and installed it next to my driveway. There is a unlimited supply of those at many stores.

"Just get your own hoop and put it up in your own driveway/backyard" is a common theme here on the Deck and at City Hall.

And it ignores demographics in Lakewood.

Not everyone in Lakewood owns a house.

Not everyone in Lakewood has a driveway.

Not everyone in Lakewood lives on Wilbert.

There is, in fact, a limited supply of residents and families who control whether to place a basketball hoop in either a driveway or backyard.

It's okay to see families playing basketball in city parks.

Families having fun in city parks is a sign of a healthy community.

Yea it's great that Wagar got a half court. However, this hoop was removed from Kauffman Park.

I'm concerned that with the vision we want to see enacted at Kauffman Park and other parks in Lakewood, that any neighbor that is persistently complaining about park activities can have a park closed for "safety concerns". This is a precedent that is unfair to park users, advocacy groups, and most importantly unfair to kids that want to safely ride their bike to play at their neighborhood park:

But yea it's great that the same city hall who cites "safety concerns" allows an over 150 seat bar to exist in the middle of a residential neighborhood and next to an elementary school?

So in sum, a neighborhood court that attracts elementary school kids from Lincoln and Grant is shut down over the sound of a bouncing ball and the threats of a menacing neighbor but we will allow a bar to exist right next to an elementary school?

Groups like Kauffman Park Friends inspire other people and residents to get involved in their community, one resident who complains about the noise of a bouncing ball, should not dictate park policy for 52,000 residents.