Thank you for those that have posted comments so far, whether on our blog or via the comment collector. To share the comments from the collector, we will be compiling them and posting them to the blog once a week. Remember that for posting comments to the collector, we do need a first and last name (you can always request that it not be listed when we post them). If you would like a direct response, please provide a valid email or phone number. Responses will also be posted here if we are unable to get a hold of you. Here are more comments we've received to date:
9 month out of the year, this park is below 32* and 6 plus months its snow covered. I hope you are designing for this park and not some place in California. Non of your pictures of "choices" look like this park usually looks, even the water is liquid! Please start every meeting reminding people that its "weird" (abnormal) right now. ~ Ed Brewer
Response: Good comment, and it echoes what we've been hearing during our meetings. The images we showed in the 'dotmocracy' activity were based on the input and ideas we received during the outreach process so far. As for winter activities, skiing is definitely something we've heard, as well as activities that are all season (dog walking, running, etc...). Images of playgrounds in winter was also requested. One of the graphic boards that we have had at meetings (available via the related files link) was intended to spur people into thinking creatively about the winter months.
Does the PF and its folk think that all of Anchorage is ignorant and foolish?
ReplyDeleteThe fact of the matter is that the Master Plan already addresses winter use and calls for finishing the trail system and lighting it. It has called for this for some 30 years, during which neither the MOA nor APF asked for funding to accomplish that. But when NECC folk asked Corvus about using the funds for such purposes they were told, "No!"
While there was some oblique talk about winter focus when the Foundation was engaged in funding plans to clear cut south RJSP (same State grant, same State money, same private unlicensed, fund) one immediately noticed that this was simply cover for clear cutting a driving range, which was named a "ski stadium" in order to make it look like clear cutting urban forest was endorsed by skiers. Really!
And of course, the soccer fields, created in violation of MOA code as a result of the 1997 planning fiasco, wold easily serve as a ski stadium, if the mandate of the Master Plan with respect to completion of the trail system and its lighting were addressed.
In fact, your dotmocracy boards, as admitted by you, are defective as far as planning for any development focused just on the north side of the park because all the graphics apparently referenced the entire park, not the north side! Your alleged data, such as it is, is irrelevant and arguably useless.
ReplyDeleteIt is also important to note that while you acknowledge that this is a regional park, you have tended to address it as a neighborhood park. One has to wonder, for example, why you would prompt the few park users who responded as to whether they wanted a playground when there is an existing playground just a block away from your ground zero during an event promoted for kids.....? Hmmmmmmm........