ThisWeek UA 2/2/2011
The 30 participants at the community facilities & services public conversation last week discussed options for what they would like to see as a part of the city’s revised master plan, and one idea from the past was clearly back on the table – community center.
Council member Debbie Johnson, community facilities & services chair, explained that her committee is reviewing the 17 master plan facilities objectives, adopted in 2001. The master plan is required to be reviewed every 10 years.
Assistant City Manager Joe Valentino and Parks and Recreation Director Tim Moloney reviewed the current inventory of green space, schools, city buildings, non-profit and for-profit meeting spaces with the participants.
Moloney also highlighted upcoming facilities like the skate park and volleyball courts planned for Reed Road as well as the Amelita Mirolo Barn at Sunny 95 Park.
Participants were then asked to name current or desired facilities they would like to have in-depth conversations about for the remainder of the evening.
The audience listed Tremont pool, Northam Park, the Senior Center, an indoor play space, a community center, Miller Park, a public square, street and traffic amenities and the old Coach Road fire station, which is being used by the Parks and Recreation Department and has been dubbed the recreation station.
Four discussion groups were formed around the ideas.
Valentino instructed each group to record comments made during the discussions and report their ideas to the larger group.
The largest breakout group discussed the recreation station and a possible community center and indoor play area. After discussing several options for the space, the majority said they would like a multi-generational, possibly multi-jurisdictional, community center like what exists in Worthington.
Group members said they believe the recreation station should be utilized for programming as-is until a community center can be developed, and then it should be razed for public green-space.
“I know I drive 10 miles, but I love the feel of the Worthington rec center, which is why I’m a member – I want that here,” resident Erin Shumacher said.
The second largest group discussed facilities linked to Northam Park, particularly the Senior Center.
Several of the discussion participants are current members of the center and felt that, for now, the facility needs better handicapped accessibility on all sides of the buildings and better upkeep – three furnaces have failed so far this winter, they said.
In the future, they said they would like a large complex to be built to host multiple generations of residents including senior programming and an indoor pool to replace the Tremont Pool.
“I find it interesting how two separate groups talking about two separate things came to the same conclusion,” said resident Mike Dury, who participated in the Northam Park group.
The street facilities discussion focused on a need for more roundabouts or four-way stops due to problems triggering stoplights; a desire to see better maintenance on currently installed sidewalks and roads; and a central public square that is available for petitioning residents about issues.
Discussion about Miller Park focused on eliminating insect infestations after heavy rains and tree stumps.
Residents Patricia Jay and Joan Dury agreed that this meeting was a good way of giving input.
“This was an excellent format to explore the community’s needs,” Dury said.
The spring forum for this committee will be announced in the coming months, Johnson said.
She closed the night by thanking the participants and assured everyone that the feedback collected will be used when the committee makes recommendations to council.