April 17 Neighborhood Planning Assembly looks at what our parks need...

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6:45 PM Sign in, GREET NEIGHBORS AND CITY OFFICIALS

7:00  WELCOME. INTRODUCTIONS and ANNOUNCEMENTS, AGENDA, GROUND RULES.

7:05 BUSINESS: Nominations - Cari Papp, Russ Ellis, and Fexha Sulejmani to Ward 4 Steering Committee.

*OPEN FORUM will be part of each item on the agenda, with opportunity at the end of the evening for anyone to speak out on other issues.

7:10  CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR – 30 minutes

7:40 REPORTS FROM ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS, including updates on issues carried over from past meetings: Upcoming City Council resolutions/decisions, Penny for Parks budget process, tenant lease Miller Ctr, Yield signs at crosswalks, redistricting Districts and Wards, connecting waterfront and bike path with North Ave residential areas and businesses, Alliance of new North End Entrepreneurs.

8:10  PROGRAM:

·         Infant Playgroups at the Miller Center, Cari and Tom Papp, and Ariel Gray. 15 minutes

·         Master List of park needs  25 minutes

Friends of Leddy Park, Tower Keypers and Friends of Ethan Allen Park, Schiffiliti Park, Appletree Park, Friends of Starr Farm Dog Park, Starr Farm Park, North Beach, Waterfront Dog Park, Urban Reserve, Mt. Calvary Red Maple Wetland, Bike Path.

8:50  Wrap Up with Speak Out 

The pedestrian entrance to Leddy Park is dark and dreary, even on a sunny day. There is no sign, the area is overgrown with brush and poison ivy. People witness suspicious activity there which leads to warnings that the area isn't safe. This is the only entrance to Leddy Park for people walking, pushing strollers, or biking from the Avenue. Leddy Rd is narrow; it has no sidewalks or shoulders. Speeding cars are a problem, which the recently added speed bumps attest to.

Senior  and her dog reluctant to enter Leddy Park.

On Apr 17, Ward 4 and Ward 7 NPAs will create a wish list for our neighborhood parks. 35 project requests have already been submitted, which puzzles us since we just got the invitation to "weigh in" a few days ago. We have requested copies of the project requests already submitted, for information and to avoid duplication of effort.

pretty fishy

        We have had projects on request at Parks Dept for three years! For example, for three years we have been trying to get a drain replaced in the lower Leddy parking lot, which is contributing to erosion of the shoreline. For three years we've been asking for a few picnic tables near the mural and racquet courts; and for the poison ivy in that area to be mowed because kids are being harmed by it. For four years, we've been asking for the pedestrian entrance to Leddy to be made attractive, welcoming, and safe. We don't know if these project requests have been acknowledged in any way. Suddenly there is a seven page form and days later 35 project requests had already been submitted? Something fishy about this.