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Park seeks increased funding

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MHS.1927
Tuesday, September 13, 2011: 12:52 pm
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Baby steps in the right direction....keep up the good work Park Board. A vibrant park is an essential amenity to attracting new people & employers to our city.

D E Chafey
Tuesday, September 13, 2011: 9:39 pm
More from D E Chafey

I felt I would be remiss if I didn�t add some detail to this article; my comments are in quotes.
��asking the Martinsville Common Council to provide $200,000 to replace a park shelter and for playground equipment. "Shelter house #1, the most sought after of all of the shelter houses in the park, is close to falling apart. It has served the park for over 50 years and with general maintenance and much abuse from vandalism is due for replacement; $85 to $125K with utilities moved. As for playground #1 equipment, which is 20 years old or older, it is broken and beyond repair making the safety of our children a priority. As I�ve searched for pricing and am amazed at the cost of new, $25K (bare bones) to $75K (close to what we have)."
�� board members complained about lack of direction from city officials about their roles and questions about the city�s budget process. "For many years the Park Board has operated on a �make do� basis. There has not been enough funding partly due to the lack of any kind of plan, but mostly due to lack of funds. If you don�t have a plan you can�t ask for funds to keep up on maintenance let alone new amenities, this information has been needed in order to provide Martinsville with up to date parks�how to do this has not been provided to many board members. The word �complained� is subjectively used here as the reporter heard the frustration voiced by members of the board�complaining denotes one who has a grievance or resentment for something�..this is not the case�..our being frustrated at the system has been voiced before but that has not hindered our zeal for better parks for Martinsville."
��.the city doesn�t have the tax base needed for it��. We�ve got to be realistic. "If it is one thing the Park Board is, is realistic (aware of or expressing awareness of things as they really are )�.we�ve taken a realistic appraisal of the parks� needs and what we see in the properties the city owns and has an obligation to maintain. Your parks need to be safe, fit for service and a viable resource for economic development�.fun too. The parks belong to the city, and therefore the taxpayer who has a responsibility for them."
�...That�s probably a conflict of interest and he shouldn�t be voting. "This statement should have been explained�.Phil Deckard II has no vote on the Park Board, the reference was to voting in City Council meetings on issues that are pool related�.if my memory serves, Phil abstains from voting on many issues that deal with the park pool because he is one of the managers."
��. I need a pat on the head that says I need to do this,� Chafey said. I�m confused. "My mention of this evidently was lost in the translation�.I mused, in reference to my lack of knowledge, while I smacked my forehead with my palm, that I needed direction and training and that might be the best way to get my attention�..and I have been confused at just what I, we, needed to do."
�... He has developed his own five-year plan�. "In my frustration I began looking at the properties the city owns and the Park Board has responsibility for, so I wrote down many of the needs I�ve seen�.certainly anyone could add to my list, or tell me what I wrote is ridiculous�.my feelings won�t be hurt�.I�m frustrated from talking about a plan and not having one and I would challenge all who enjoy the parks to add to what I�ve written."
��.Our parks, Chafey said, are very disastrous in this town. "I said this because as citizens we�ve asked the Park Director and staff to make do for too long with little funding, poor equipment and little hope for improvement, for years. The folks working for the parks do major things that go unnoticed, and on a day to day basis fix what gets broken by the disrespectful vandals that seemingly don�t stop coming hell bent to destroy what ever is in their way."
"Be a friend of Martinsville's City Parks.....they're worth the investment!"

Shawn Hogan
Tuesday, September 13, 2011: 10:06 pm
More from Shawn Hogan

DE Chafey If more people had your heart and spirit not only would our park be something to be proud of our city in every direction would be something to admire. I believe that starts at city hall and city counsel to insure there is money for park repairs and upgrades.

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