Some of the non-parents and parents alike are concerned that the park is becoming less diverse. More stuff for kids and less space for adults.

I want my daughter to grow up seeing seniors at the park. I and my daughter, the little blond toddler were both at the meeting.

There is a concern that the park is being transitioned away from open general space to fenced in activity spaces. I haven't seen the citizen plan that is being put forward but if it converts existing open active space to designed activity space I can understand the opposition.

A balance can and needs to be struck allowing for the most use by the greatest number of people. I think everyone in the discussion has good intentions so I have confidence this balance can be stuck.

The plan is updated the playground equipment in existing locations, namely the swings and structure on the southern side of the park. The have hopes of also updating the large structure in the center.

"The have hopes of also updating the large structure in the center."

You mean the gazebo? What are their "hopes"?

For the record this is a citizen group, well meaning I'm sure, that is not appointed, regognized or empowered by the municipal, county, state or federal government. As such I don't beleive there are any regonized procedures to vett their suggestions before they are presented to the public.

But good ideas can come from anywhere and this group should be heard just as any and every other resident and community group should be.

Not the gazebo, the play structure just east of the gazebo. The older wooden and plastic thing.

opps... The hopes are to replace old play stuctures with rotting wood with newer ones.

Accurate article. I was initially skeptical but the Play women were clear that they would not alter the existing footprint, only upgrade the equipment. It's not their fault that the park is a mess while trying to accommodate everyone. I too wish it was more open, but it isn't their fault.

'bout time someone told Tumpson and the ladies to shut up!
Isn't Fallick a Rent Control Trustee ( a public official)?
Act accordingly

I love the irony of Ondrejka complaining that the proposed swings are not being designed with adults in mind, "Ondrejka declared that she likes to use the swings at Church Square Park and that she's not the only adult who uses them. "That design is not good for adults," said Ondrejka, gesturing toward Project Play's swing set diagram." Isn't this the same Ondrejka who thinks the park should not be a playground?

Da Horsey has a great video of her opinion as expressed to City Council which should not be missed:
http://hobokenhorse.blogspot.com/2010/05/dust-up-on-church-square-park.html

I was there too and if you talk to people in person and try to understand their point of view none of them are that unreasonable.

Mary also pointed out that teens use the swings. I sit on the swing with my toddler in my lap. So that is an adults weight plus the weight of a child.

I'm sure we would like swings that an engineer has said can bare a reasonable amount of weight Otherwise the city will get sued when there is an accident caused by someone that weighs more than the swings can bare uses it.

I will volunteer to be a test subject for any Adult-sized swing. At 325 pounds, if the swing can hold me it probably can hold just about anybody.

Is there anywhere online to see an overview of the proposed layout?

Heard Lane Bajardi attacked Dog Owners at this meeting demanding they start paying to use the dog run!
If that's true, it seems Bajardi hates puppies too!
Odd coming from an attack dog like him...

Lane is not against dogs, he is against parents providing private funding if the dog runs are maintained by city funds.

I don't know but the email for women who gave the presentation is hobokenprojectplay at gmail dot com.

RandyRandy,

I'm going to address you once.

You like Lane would rather tear a community apart than to form coalitions between people that want to make the city better.

I was there were you?

Lane might love or hate dogs, but his purposed seemed to be get folks angry. I said just summarized accurately what he said.

I expressed no opinion on what he said, unlike you.

And lastly, thanks for being a real jerk after I mentioned a friend died. Nice, real classy.

Uh.. are you serious?
First of all, nobody is tearing anything apart.
Second, your friend died, if true, my sympathies
Thirdly, Your friend dies and you are on here blogging? WTF -your authenticity seems a bit artificial.
Finally, how good a friend if you use them as a cover from criticisms?
Do you really think that gets you sympathy? Go spend time with your "friends family" or grieve said friend with the dignity your "friend" deserves. Not on here exploiting the death!

I was checking my email, news of my family, news of his, etc. And there was the update for the patch and your messages.

Criticism should provide more than an attack. It should provide a path to grow by.

Now I'm off to find out how to stop getting up dates in my email so I don't see any thing you write.

Then to his facebook wall where friends and family of his are sharing memories.

Gimme a break...
How does one grow by your posts?

Randy

People can grow (learn) through the exchange of ideas.

I mentioned the death of my friend before you criticized me. Before you chimed in about Lane and hating dogs. So to claim I made it up to get you to stop picking on me is incorrect.

You called me an apologist. You assume, wrongly that I'm some fan of Lane's. I was at the meeting, I heard him speak first hand, not 2nd hand like you. I was trying to give more context to his statements, not support them.

The more people with different interests fight each other the more the park will be torn up by politicians trying to please one group or the other.

If the parents, dog owners, singles wanting to sun bath, folks playing basketball in the courts, and seniors wanting to enjoy the beauty of the park all work together we might end up reversing the fracturing of the park.

The last thing we need is politicians or political operatives vying for votes by pitting different voting blocks against each other.

I should not have to prove my statements to you,but I will. I say this not merely to prove that someone died, but because writing about him feels good.

Alexei Kondratiev, a brillant and wonderful man, left this world. I was one of his Welsh language students at St. David's Society. He will be missed by many people who all feel thankful that we got to know him. Even the people that disagreed with him about Celtic studies expressed their respect for him.

I will remember him through actions, by continuing to learn Welsh, by learning and teaching my daughter how to identify birds and birdsong. My fighting to ensure that the parks are not just for the running around of children, but for everyone.

Google Alexei if you don't believe me.

Randy,

You are right no play structure is made entirely of wood. But the older ones are made of combination of materials including wood (some of which that is rotting).