The Observation Deck

The Youth & Recreation Committee of Lakewood City Council will meet at the following times to discuss issues related to the management of our city parks:

Thursday, September 21, 2006, 6:30pm, Lakewood City Hall
Topic: Maintenance
Administration officials requested to attend: Director of Public Works
Division of Parks staff

Thursday, October 12, 2006, 6:30pm, Lakewood City Hall
Topic: Policing
Administration officials requested to attend: Chief of Police

Thursday, October 19, 2006, 6:30pm, Lakewood City Hall
Topic: Planning
Requested to attend: Members of the Planning Commission

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. There will be ample opportunity to speak to the committee about your concerns.

Sincerely,


Ryan Patrick Demro, Chairman
Kevin Butler, Member

Ryan

Maybe you could post these to the calendar?

Also I was wondering, I went by Lakewood Park and saw some schools using the field for soccer.

Do they pay for the field use?

While I have no problem with Lakewood school kids using the fields I do wonder if it is a private or charter school. That would seem like double dipping. Also if the school has a religious slant or message, would that not go against the rules of the city public parks.

Maybe if we could charge these private schools that flaunt their wealth for use, we could pay for the clean-up.

Just curious.


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Ryan Patrick Demro wrote:Ryan Patrick Demro, Chairman
Kevin Butler, Member

I am glad to see that these two councilmen can get together on this important issue. Maybe they will start a trend. Council members working together to solve a problem. Who would have thunk it.

It is about time someone started asking for answers. How hard is it to see that the lawns are mowed?

I attended last night's meeting on Maintenence and would like to thank Councilman Ryan Patrick Demro and Kevin Butler for bringing the issue to light and creating a forum for the public to learn about how the Maintenance issues are addressed.


But this would not have been possible without the open and honest communication we heard from Dave Seman, Parks and Property Operations Manager, Matt Voisic (sp?) and Patty from the the Parks and Public Property Division of Public Works. They showed those in attendance a peek inside the daily/weekly/seasonal maintenance regimen that they follow as well as all the challenges they face in keeping up with these cycles. It was an educational experience and I thank the PP department for coming out and helping us understand the whole picture. In closing I would commend the department for doing what they can to meet the challenges with what resources they have.

In a city that thrives on the residential composition, the very basic act of keeping the public spaces clean, repaired, and welcoming is the frontline on the branding and image battle we are facing.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:While I have no problem with Lakewood school kids using the fields I do wonder if it is a private or charter school. That would seem like double dipping. Also if the school has a religious slant or message, would that not go against the rules of the city public parks.

Maybe if we could charge these private schools that flaunt their wealth for use, we could pay for the clean-up.

Quite a stretch, even for you, Jim O'B.

Great meeting last night. We appear to have some scheduling issues which dramatically affect park maintenance, but the problem certainly doesn't seem insurmountable, even in light of the tight budget under which we're operating.

Next meeting on October 12 will deal with policing at the parks. Councilman Demro, thanks for hosting. As last night's meeting showed well, public attendance adds much to the conversation.

Kevin Butler

While I have no problem with Lakewood school kids using the fields I do wonder if it is a private or charter school.

If I understand it correctly, Charter Schools are pulic schools. The only two private schools left in Lakewood are Catholic Academy and St. Eds if I'm not mistaken. I would venture that the majority of students attending those schools reside in Lakewood. So I think their parents are already paying through their taxes for the fields.

Now, if Rocky River wants to practice on our fields, I think you have a great argument. Or another private school that isn't located in Lakewood, but may have some Lakewood residents attending there - like my son's HS, Trinity. They should have to make a contribution.

Innocently overlooked. St. Cyril and Methodius is another parochial school in Lakewood. A great school. A Birdtown institution. A Blue Ribbon School.

You are right, Jay.