Parks
When The Alliance was formed, its Bylaws Committee created a standing “Parks Committee.” That committee, which is chaired by Chuck Chambers, is responsible for working with the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation Commission (GHPRC) to bring about major changes related to the Southside’s two historic parks---Ritter Park, and its westward extension, Memorial Park. The goal is twofold: (1.) To attain a proper restoration of these Southside parks to the level of their former beauty, condition of built assets, cleanliness, tree health and landscaping and (2.) To attain the creation and implementation of a proper, strategic plan for the parks’ careful, systematic, ongoing maintenance. At The Alliance’s strong urging, all lamp and lot posts in the park were repainted in September 2020…a baby step…but highly visible progress. Below is the most recent report of the Parks Committee.
Following our February, 2021 letter to the GHPRC’s Board of Commissioners (Park Board) pointing out its unresponsiveness, Alliance President, Dan Gooding and Parks Committee Chairman, Chuck Chambers, attended the Board’s March 24th meeting to formally present The Alliance’s concerns. Meetings of the Park Board had been closed to the public since April 2020, but were selectively reopened in February. The presentation was courteous, but constructively frank, as we recited our organization’s attempts over the past 15 months to prompt action by the Park Board to address the widespread deterioration that we have all observed. Several Park Board members spoke to support our position. Notably, Southside resident Alan Morrison volunteered to take the lead for the Park Board by examining our concerns and suggestions. Alan is to report to the Park Board on his findings at its April meeting.
Immediately following the meeting, a letter to Park Board members was sent to thank them for listening to the Alliance’s presentation and to propose that they set up a working group with our organization. Proceeding together we can identify the maintenance/repairs needed and explore sources of funding and other action.
Because we reacted strongly to their failure to seek grants after our discussions last Fall, the Park Board has undertaken a grant application for the stonework estimate obtained last October. That estimate only covers a part of the obvious needs, but it’s a start.
Another goal of The Alliance is the establishment of a new Historic District to encompass Memorial Park and its surrounding streets. The expansion of the Ritter Park Historic District is a related objective as well. You can read all about the work in progress on those fronts in this website’s Historic Preservation section.
The article about the parks reprinted below is from the Fall ‘20/Winter ‘21 Alliance Newsletter. Below that article are the three letters sent by The Alliance to the members of the GHPRC board.
Alliance Urges Parks Commission Action
The Alliance’s Parks Committee continues to push for the GHPRD to focus on the maintenance neglect of Ritter and Memorial Parks, the latter being the westward extension of Ritter Park starting at 8th Street and following Four Pole Creek along the path past the Memorial Arch.
We have made specific suggestions for the Board to seek grants to support the stonework and other repairs/improvements we’ve identified. To our great disappointment, NO grants were sought, and now one of the best options we cited has closed its application process. Following our most recent inquiries, we were informed that the Board did obtain one grant application, for another one we called its attention to mid-February. It is, for what we understand, a small amount and the staff intends to submit it.
Among other concerns we expressed, we have urged the Board to address the crumbling stonework evident throughout the Parks, prompting an inspection and estimate. As a result, an estimate was obtained from a local stonemason of $55,000 covering only the stonework in Ritter Park. Unfortunately, Memorial Park’s heavily damaged stone circle, stair, gate posts and walkways, part of which were created in the 1930’s by WPA craftsmen, were not reviewed by the stonemason. We are addressing that.
We were told the Board would consider dividing the work over 4 years to bring the annual cost into line with the usual yearly maintenance; we do not know if formal action has been taken. However, with no additional funding, funds expended on the stonework will be redirected from other maintenance needs.
Communications with the Board are hampered because its meetings are conducted by videoconference, with no non-members invited.
Parks Committee Chair, Chuck Chambers, has written a letter to the President and Board, again expressing our concern with the parks’ excessive deferred maintenance and the apparent lack of any strategic planning to address it. He requested that our representatives be included in the March Board meeting.
We should note that The Alliance very much appreciated the repainting of all of Ritter Park’s lamp and lot posts, an action resulting from our earlier review of priority issues with the Commission. The Alliance’s most recent letter to the GHPRD Board can be read at huntingtonsouthside.org.
