17 Responses to “Chimbo playground focus group notes”

1. posted by Chimbo at May 7, 2008 2:35 pm [#]:
   

   Is there anyone focusing on the remainder of Chimborazo? The bigger part? To prevent debacles like the building of the giant berm at the bottom of the hideouos grove of something comedically called “trees”?

   I understand the playground issues are what will cause more familys to move to our neighborhood, but $250,000 seems like a lot of money to change litebulbs, install locks and repair the equipment.

2. posted by edg at May 7, 2008 2:59 pm [#]:
   

   Hey, if there’s a budget and a group willing to implement these ideas, I am for it. The kids here in the east end too often are at the bottom of the list for any parks and recreation projects.

   I’d also like to see some needed renovations to the Oakwood park. That’s where my son played football and there is no overhead lighting. When it got dark, the parents would turn on the headlights of their cars to light the field so practice could continue!!

3. posted by Bill Conkle at May 8, 2008 12:19 am [#]:
   

   I encourage neighbors to form “Friends Of…” Groups to support their local park. There currently is a Friends of Jefferson Park, Friends of Libby Hill Park and now Friends of Chimborazo Playground. Please contact me at junkifunki@aol.com if you have an interest in establishing a Friends Group for any park in the City. I currently serve as Vice-President of the Richmond Recreation and Park Foundation and will be happy to assist your community group.

4. posted by avic2 at May 8, 2008 11:59 am [#]:
   

   $250,000 will not begin to cover the wonderful proposals set forth by BAM. The finished project will not only be beautiful; it will also increase the value of our homes and provide a healthy safe environment to play for both young and old. We all need to rally behind this project and even volunteer our labor and/or monies to bring this to completion.

5. posted by Chimbo at May 8, 2008 12:17 pm [#]:
   

   You do realize that you are spending your own tax money lavishly… $250,000 is REAL MONEY. Especially when the playground works. The equipment and grounds need sprucing up, but to replace perfectly viable equipment is not environmentally friendly nor is it economically wise.

   Dont get me wrong, I want to see improvements and applaud the efforts, but I think that we have a responsiblity to ensure that the city/state/federal government is a wise steward of our tax money. For example, if I played patank (sp) I might consider taking up a collection from players installing a bench, umbrella, and plywood scoreboard with blackboard paint on it. All could be accomplished for under $200 at Home Depot.

   The dog park had to raise its own funds after all….

6. posted by avic2 at May 8, 2008 12:38 pm [#]:
   

   Certainly, the avid users of the playground can and should devise some creative stategies to raise money for their most favored features. Many ideas have been suggested and I am sure will be incorporated into the plan.

   As you must know the main problems are drugs, sex, animals defecating and urinating in the sand where children play, trash, AND the overall ugliness of the playground, so it does not work. I will happily spend my tax dollars, and my time and labor to help eradicate all of these problems even though I personally do not use the playground.

   The elements that contribute to all of the above practices would naturally be uncomfortable in a well lighted, attractive park where people come and go both day and night, and seek an alternative venue to sell their drugs, or bodies. Hopefully, the dog park will eliminate those who do not consider keeping children safe a priority by controlling their animals as well.

7. posted by bridgette at May 8, 2008 2:01 pm [#]:
   

   Thanks for everyone’s comments and concerns. I encourage you to attend the next focus group meeting for the proposed play/rec area designs (I will post that date as soon as it’s available – probably late May).

   We regularly find crack bags, used condoms and broken liquor bottles litter the playground area-—particularly on and underneath the jungle gym where children play. Graffiti covers the jungle gym and storage facility, which reek of urine. Lack of lighting transforms the playground into a nighttime haven for prostitution, drug use and potential assaults. The path that connects 31st and 29th Street is overgrown and underlit – I think it’s only a matter of time before something very unfortunate happens.

   We have worked with the Parks Dept and the Police to improve maintenance and step up nighttime patrols and they’ve done an admirable job, but it’s still an uphill battle without proper lighting or just foot traffic needed to deter criminal elements.

   The current playground equipment doesn’t necessarily need to be replaced, but additional, age-appropriate equipment should be added (the current set is for ages 5-12; a fall from that height for smaller children could be serious). We’d also like to enhance the ground material to reduce the impact of falls.

   I agree that the budget seems considerable. The plans call for installing new lighting, new fencing (“so the park doesn’t feel like a cage” as one planner put it), some type of water feature (probably a fountain of sorts) to beat the summer heat now that the pool is gone, demolition of the storage shed, and possible relocation of b-ball and tennis courts, new petanque courts, new signage, etc. These will definitely add up fast.

   Friends of Chimborazo plans to do additional fundraising as we’re not sure that the budget will be able to cover everything in the designs. The architect has been asked to develop the designs to a “schematic level,” so that contractors can then bid on the project. Those estimates may actually be quite different than the budget.

   We strongly feel *everyone’s* voices throughout the community should be heard, so I hope to see you at the next meeting and I hope you’ll volunteer. We want the park to be as diverse, beautiful and vibrant as the rest of our neighborhood. Learn more about the project at imaginechimbo.org.

8. posted by Chimbo at May 8, 2008 2:20 pm [#]:
   

   I do applaud your efforts and agree something needs doing.

   But from experience, I know that a city can go through tens of thousands of dollars and not accomplish anything meanigful. ANd at other times spend little extra money and make a huge impact. I hope that the group makes sure that the city spends the money wisely.

9. posted by GRRRRRRR! at May 8, 2008 2:24 pm [#]:
   

   I’d like to see this parcel sold by the city, returned to the tax base and developed responsibly within the character of the rest of the neighborhood south of Broad. We have plenty of park space and the current use perpetuates a nuisance at our expense.

   GRRRRRR!

10. posted by edg at May 8, 2008 3:12 pm [#]:
    

    For the record, I disagree totally with GRRRR. My kids use this playground a lot, as do all of our neighbor’s kids. And that’s a lot. Especially the basketball court, which people of all ages enjoy. In fact, have you ever seen the park empty during daylight (after school) hours?

    I have no idea what “developed responsibly within the character of the rest of the neighborhood south of Broad” is supposed to mean. It is in the character of South of Broad – there are many parents and children there. And, please note, that this park is used by children North of Broad as well, who have just as much right to be there. Chimborazo park is a much safer place to play than many of the playgrounds further north in the Hill.

    I suspect GRRR does not have any children, or at least none at the age that would use this park. But those of us who are parents want these sorts of amenities in our neighborhood, and we do not want the existing parks removed (nor our existing schools closed just because it is prime real estate, ie Bellevue).

    I am disturbed by this recurring us vs. them theme in regards to neighbors raising families here and neighbors who have chosen not to have children. We have got to learn to to live together.

11. posted by NK at May 8, 2008 4:46 pm [#]:
    

    Booooo, South of Broad vs. North of Broad. The North will rise again!

12. posted by NK at May 8, 2008 4:49 pm [#]:
    

    BTW, my family uses the playground, and I welcome any improvements. Hooray for kids!

13. posted by Anne at May 8, 2008 4:51 pm [#]:
    

    Someone from the focus group might want to take a look at the fabulous new Montrose Heights playground that went up last week t the corner of Fenton and Randall. Two separate structures, one for toddlers and one for bigger kids, and benches for grownups to sit and watch — it would be interesting to know how much the city spent rehabbing that space (my friends in Montrose called the old structure “Tetanus Island”). It was teeming with kids last Friday evening and everyone was having a blast.

14. posted by Crystal at May 8, 2008 5:01 pm [#]:
    

    I would love to see an accessible playground go in so kids of varying ages and abilities could have equal the amount of fun. That of course would mean mulch might not be useful as wheelchairs and the like can’t get around on it, but it’s something to think about and ponder as we go into this phase of development.

15. posted by mike at May 9, 2008 10:22 am [#]:
    

    Bulldoze a playground? Why do I picture GRRRRR on his/her porch shaking a cane…

    “Get off my lawn you pesty kids!!!”

16. posted by bridgette at May 9, 2008 3:00 pm [#]:
    

    To GRRR: It’s my understanding that land there has a history of tension cracks and scarps, hence not suitable for major building development. The old pool at the playground/rec area was having problems even before Gaston and was in the process of demolition.

    The playground and recreational area is for neighbors of *all ages* to use and enjoy. Approximately 50 petanque players play there 2-3 times per week in the evenings; teens and adults regularly have basketball games and tournaments there. Other teens skateboard there. Tennis players occasionally use the court there. Children–from toddlers to elementary school kids and beyond–play on the swings and play on the jungle gym. Chimborazo Elementary School regularly brings kids there in the afternoons to use the facilities; churches also bring children to use the park.

    The park needs to be as inclusive and as diverse as our entire neighborhood. The proposed designs take into account all of these park visitor groups, so everyone is included. Even though the project is referred to as the “Chimborazo Playground” – it’s a recreation/activity center for people of all ages, backgrounds, locations (North AND South of Broad), etc.

    Crystal: Thanks for your comments about handicapped accessibility. I will make sure these are raised at the next meeting.

    Chimbo: Good feedback and I hope you can make it to next meeting. If not, I will raise your concerns as well.

    Anne: I’ll find out about the Fenton project. I hear it’s great.

17. posted by GRRRRRRR! at May 9, 2008 6:08 pm [#]:
    

    Perhaps I struck an unintended nerve; my reference to south of broad was to the architectural aspects of the area, which are different (not better) than other parts of Church Hill. The purpose of my message was more along the lines of tax base. As for the soil, I suspect it can be stabilized if the value is there. I am simply tired of paying the taxes to make up for the depleted tax base of this city.

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